Remnants of Ancient Life: The New Science of Old Fossils

by Dale E. Greenwalt

Remnants of Ancient Life: The New Science of Old Fossils is a really interesting look at advances in paleobiology by Dale Greenwalt, a paleobiologist who curates the fossil insect collection at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. While traditional paleobiology had to rely on the study of bones and teeth, paleobiologists can now use ancient molecules to study DNA, protein, pigments, and other organic materials. The shadow of Jurassic Park lurks behind this book: it opens with a description of the discovery of the fossil of a blood-engorged mosquito, a stunning 46 million years old.