Organic Flypaper
Amber Gives a Green Light to Study of Ancient Life
People have made jewelry from amber -- hardened tree resin -- since the Egyptian era. And no wonder -- the stuff is beautiful, mysterious, seemingly luminescent.
But amber is much more than just jewelry. To scientists who study ancient life, it's simply the best preservative ever "invented." This issue of The Why Files examines the scientific contributions of nature's preservative.

Bacteria lived in the gut of this ancient bee. Are the bacteria still alive? Courtesy Raul Cano

Want to take the story from the top? What if insects trapped in amber contain real, live bacteria? How old can amber go? The history of historic discoveries in archaic amber. Resin can repel insects -- or attract them. Excuse me?

Want a definition of amber? (Hint -- so do the scientists who study the stuff...)

Factcheckers and credits for this edition.

We've put together a list of readings and web sites on the subject.

Ladeez and Gennelmen! Step right up! Test your brain against the amber quiz (it only takes a minute -- we promise). Or wait till you've read this article.