The Real Science of Avatar

On Earth: Archaeopteryx
Sometimes known as the "first bird," the Jurassic-era Archaeopteryx was a major source of inspiration for the flying creatures in Avatar, including the banshee. The ancient creature is thought to be a transitional species between dinosaur and bird, since it has characteristics of both. In 2009, four years after the initial designs were made, a prehistoric bird fossil was found in China with four feathered wings, just as the banshee has.

• In Honor of Earth Day: The Earth from Above