In a climate-controlled facility near Brownsville, the Giant Eagle stands calm but watchful, every movement recorded, every feather cataloged. DNA sequencing teams work in shifts, comparing its genome to known eagles and extinct megafauna, searching for clues of an unknown lineage or an evolutionary throwback that somehow slipped past modern detection. Its blood chemistry, muscle density, and respiratory capacity are being measured to understand how such a large bird can sustain powered flight.
Pages: 1 2