Possible Blood Cell Remains Found in Brazilian Dinosaur Fossil

Adapted by News by Levels November 3, 2026

Scientists found cell-like structures and a blood-related chemical in an ancient leg bone.

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Science news editorial illustration for Dinosaur Fossil Holds Possible Traces of Ancient Blood Cells

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A of a 115-million-year-old has that be of . The to , a was in in 2008.

The of , a with the that in . Their in the of the of .

The are , . that that they were . the .

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Source: ABC News, 2026-11-03.

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Read and understand · 1/3What did the researchers find in the Aratasaurus leg bone? A complete set of dinosaur bones Microscopic structures that may be red blood cell remains Intact living red blood cells

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Microscopic structures that may be red blood cell remains. The first paragraph describes structures that the researchers think may be red blood cell remains.

Clue: A study of a 115-million-year-old dinosaur fossil has found microscopic structures that researchers think may be remains of red blood cells. The leg bone belonged to Aratasaurus, a dinosaur whose fossil was found in Brazil in 2008.

Read and understand · 2/3What is heme associated with in the article? The protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells The minerals that make dinosaur teeth hard The pigment that helps plants use sunlight

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The protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells. The second paragraph links heme with the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells.

Clue: The team also detected traces of heme, a chemical associated with the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells. Their research appeared in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Read and understand · 3/3How do some independent experts view the researchers’ interpretation? They agree the structures are intact living cells. They believe the structures came from a different dinosaur species. They remain unconvinced that the structures were blood cells.

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They remain unconvinced that the structures were blood cells.. The third paragraph says some independent experts are unconvinced and emphasizes the structures are mineralised.

Clue: The structures are mineralised, rather than intact living cells. ABC News reports that some independent experts remain unconvinced that they were blood cells. Other scientists say the interpretation needs care.

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What evidence did the team report, and why is the interpretation not settled?

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The team found cell-like mineralised structures and traces of heme. Some independent experts remain unconvinced that the structures were blood cells.

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Possible Blood Cell Remains Found in Brazilian Dinosaur Fossil

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