115‑Million‑Year‑Old Dinosaur Heme

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115‑Million‑Year‑Old Dinosaur Heme

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In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, an international team of scientists reports finding traces of heme, an organic molecule that helps blood carry oxygen, in the vascular canals of a 115‑million‑year‑old dinosaur bone.

The fossil comes from the leg of *Aratasaurus museunacionali*, a distant relative of Velociraptor that lived during the early Cretaceous.

The fossilized bones were found in 2008 at a mine in the Romualdo Formation of northeast Brazil.

The potential discovery of molecular evidence of blood inside the bones would be remarkable because, simply put, blood doesn’t usually stick around very long after death.

The authors write that detection of endogenous biomolecules in vertebrate fossils remains controversial because labile compounds degrade quickly and are highly susceptible to contamination.

Published 2026-11-09 17:30:50 UTC · Published by JQJO

Published by JQJO Editorial Desk · AI assisted

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Timeline

2026-11-09 — 115‑Million‑Year‑Old Dinosaur Heme

Why it matters

Immediate US impact: No direct impact on U.S. policy or economy Possible long-term US impact: Potential influence on paleontological research funding Most affected groups: Scientists, researchers, and educators in paleontology Reader priority: High for science enthusiasts and academic audiences

Coverage notes

Center: Coverage from JournalArta, msn.com, greekreporter.com frames this as a developing news story: 115‑Million‑Year‑Old Dinosaur Heme. Reporting emphasizes verified facts, named sources, and near-term impact for readers. Left: Left-leaning desks covering the same development typically emphasize public impact, institutional accountability, and who is most affected. Right: Right-leaning desks covering the same development typically emphasize practical outcomes, market or security stakes, and institutional response.