Ancient Dinosaur Bone Yields Possible Blood Cell Traces

Adapted by News by Levels November 3, 2026

Scientists report cell-like structures and heme signatures in an Aratasaurus fossil, while their interpretation remains contested.

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

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a 115-million-year-old from have that they as . The to and was from a in 2008.

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

The do not to : they and . that was not by the that the were , .

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Source: ABC News, 2026-11-03.

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Read and understand · 1/3How do the study authors interpret the microscopic structures? As possible mineralised red blood cell remains As confirmed intact red blood cells As mineralised traces of microbes in the bone

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As possible mineralised red blood cell remains. The opening paragraph describes the authors’ interpretation as possible mineralised cell remains.

Clue: Researchers studying a 115-million-year-old dinosaur fossil from Brazil have reported microscopic structures that they interpret as possible mineralised red blood cell remains. The leg bone belonged to Aratasaurus and was recovered from a mine in 2008.

Read and understand · 2/3What did independent researcher Mary Schweitzer say about the evidence? She confirmed that the structures were intact blood cells. She said that no chemical traces were found in the bone. She was not convinced the structures were blood cells.

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She was not convinced the structures were blood cells.. The third paragraph reports Schweitzer’s doubt about the identification.

Clue: The findings do not amount to intact blood cells: they involve mineralised structures and chemical traces. ABC News reports that independent researcher Mary Schweitzer was not convinced by the evidence that the structures were blood cells, while another expert urged caution.

Read and understand · 3/3What do the authors propose helped preserve the traces? The absence of minerals during fossilisation Conditions involving microbes and minerals Only exposure to modern air after discovery

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Conditions involving microbes and minerals. The final paragraph describes the proposed roles of microbes and minerals.

Clue: The authors propose that conditions involving microbes and minerals helped preserve the traces. Further examination and replication could clarify their origins.

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Contrast the authors’ interpretation with one independent expert’s view and explain what might clarify the finding.

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The authors interpret the structures as possible mineralised red blood cell remains. Mary Schweitzer was not convinced by that identification. Further examination and replication could clarify their origins.

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Ancient Dinosaur Bone Yields Possible Blood Cell Traces

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