Red Pigment in Ancient Mouse Fossil (IMAGE)

DOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Red Pigment in Ancient Mouse Fossil

Caption

Using SLAC's Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source, researchers were able to untangle the story of key pigments in ancient mouse fossils. The researchers showed that the mouse likely had reddish and brown fur on its back and sides and a white tummy, as shown in Stuart Pond's artist's conception on the left. The bottom image on the right is a photograph of the key fossil examined in this study. Above that is a false colour synchrotron X-ray image of the fossil chemistry.

Credit

Gregory Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

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