Glowing spider fossils may exist thanks to tiny algae’s goo
A sulfur-rich diatom secretion coated the arachnids, helping preserve them, a study suggests
This fossilized spider is part of a trove from France, dating to about 22 million years ago. Using ultraviolet illumination (inset), scientists found that the fossil was coated in a sulfur-rich substance possibly produced by ancient diatoms. That substance may have been key to the fossil’s preservation.
A. Olcott