Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer

Born in East London, South Africa, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer was a remarkably self-taught natural historian. Despite lacking formal university training, her dedication and sharp observational skills led her to a pivotal moment in scientific history: the identification of a living coelacanth, an ancient fish previously known only through fossils. One might say she had an eye for the past, or at least for fish that were supposed to be.

Her discovery in 1938, when a local fisherman brought her an unusual catch, was met with initial skepticism. It's not everyday someone turns up a