Oldest Dinosaur Blood Discovery by Curtin University Rewrites Fossil Science

An international team led by Curtin University has made a groundbreaking discovery: the oldest known fossilized red blood cells and amino acids of collagen from a dinosaur. This finding, reported in a new study, pushes back the known limits of biomolecular preservation by tens of millions of years. The researchers used advanced analytical techniques to confirm the presence of these ancient biomolecules in a fossil, providing unequivocal evidence that soft tissues can survive far longer than previously thought. This challenges long-held assumptions about fossilization and opens new avenues for studying the biology of extinct species. The discovery matters because it suggests that many more fossils may harbor preserved organic material, potentially allowing scientists to reconstruct aspects of dinosaur physiology, evolution, and even behavior with unprecedented detail. The work, involving experts from multiple countries, underscores the importance of re-examining museum collections with modern tools. As paleontologists now know that such delicate structures can endure deep time, the race is on to find more examples and unlock the secrets they hold about life millions of years ago.