Study reports fossilized dinosaur blood in 115-million-year-old bones

· Science

Imaging and chemical analysis of a 115-million-year-old dinosaur fossil points to preserved blood cells, according to researchers who describe it as some of the best evidence yet that dinosaur blood can fossilize. The finding challenges assumptions about how long biological molecules can survive and could offer clues about dinosaur physiology, and even help scientists search for ancient life elsewhere. Not all experts are convinced by the interpretation, and the claim remains contested.

Why it matters：If biomolecules can persist far longer than assumed, paleontology and astrobiology would gain a new window into extinct physiology and the search for ancient life.

Key points

  • The fossil is 115 million years old.
  • Researchers used imaging and chemical analysis to identify the traces.
  • Some experts dispute the blood-cell interpretation.

Sources (original reporting)

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