Fossil Facts

Scientists can determine the color of some feathered dinosaurs by analyzing fossilized melanosomes—microscopic pigment structures preserved in ancient feathers.

Pollen never deteriorates. It is one of the few natural substances that lasts indefinitely.

In 2005, paleontologist Mary Schweitzer dissolved a T. rex bone in acid and discovered preserved soft tissue, including blood vessels and collagen proteins—a finding that revolutionized our understanding of fossil preservation.

A 9-year-old found a 15-million-year-old megalodon tooth on Christmas morning. She wants to be a paleontologist.