This past May 21st was the 222nd birthday of Mary Anning–a woman who, at a time when most people didn’t understand what fossils were, nonetheless recognized, found, excavated and helped advance our understanding of extinct species. She discovered remarkable and varied fossils, including gorgeous specimens that hang in the Natural History Museum, London, today. 19th century scientists (and science, in general) benefited from her work, but most never gave her the credit she deserved. Were it not for the efforts of countless people, we wouldn’t know her now.