This one really hurts. The Jane Goodall Institute has just announced that Dr. Goodall passed away this morning, in California, during her speaking tour through the United States. She was 91.

Jane Goodall is the kind of trailblazer that inspired several generations of women to pursue a career in science. Her in-situ observations of chimpanzee behavior changed our understanding of primate behavior forever. She was the first person in the world who observed tool use among chimpanzees, during a time when academicians believed only our species was capable of such complex reasoning. She also documented ‘tribal warfare’ among different chimp groups, which—for better or worse—cemented the idea that war is an inherent trait in humans (that belief has been largely contested thanks to the work of researchers like Franz de Waal, who showed that bonobos resolve their conflicts in a non-violent manner).

After attaining worldwide popularity thanks to National Geographic—her shapely legs helped a bit, she used to joke about—Dr. Goodall devoted the rest of her life to conservation efforts, in trying to safeguard the vulnerable habitats of the apes she was so passionate about.

Being something of a living legend has several advantages, and Dr. Goodall wasn’t afraid of openly expressing her more ‘out there’ ideas and beliefs. She was for instance very open to the existence of Bigfoot, and she also believed there was ‘something else’ awaiting us after bodily death.

"My next great adventure, aged 90, is dying. There’s either nothing or something, and if there’s nothing there’s nothing, and that’s it. If there’s something I can’t think of a greater adventure than finding out what it is.

I happen to think there is something because of experiences I’ve had, [and] because of experiences other people have had – very powerful ones."

Safe journey on to your great next adventure, dear Dr. Goodall. This primate is thankful for your life’s work, and will miss you.