June 12, 2019
0

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

New photography technique brings hidden history of fossils to light

by University of Texas at Austin

UVC light reveals that this Asian rhino skull is made up of a mosaic of material – so much that it has more in common with a work of art than a skeleton. The skull includes bones from at least two other sources (pink areas), which the scientists suspect came from unknown fossil specimens. The dull, dark purple is plaster, paint or adhesive. There is some original bone: the glowing green portions on the top of the specimen, mouth and bottom jaw. Credit: University of Texas at Austin
× close
UVC light reveals that this Asian rhino skull is made up of a mosaic of material – so much that it has more in common with a work of art than a skeleton. The skull includes bones from at least two other sources (pink areas), which the scientists suspect came from unknown fossil specimens. The dull, dark purple is plaster, paint or adhesive. There is some original bone: the glowing green portions on the top of the specimen, mouth and bottom jaw. Credit: University of Texas at Austin

We've all seen and marveled at them: perfect fossils of gargantuan dinosaurs or other exotic creatures from the ancient world. But the truth is, sometimes there's more than meets the eye. From signs of soft tissue and the remains of million-year-old meals, to delicate fossilized anatomy lost in the surrounding rock, to paint and plaster artfully applied by human preparators—many fossils have scientifically important features that are hiding in plain sight.

A research associate at The University of Texas at Austin is pioneering a new method for bringing these overlooked treasures into vivid detail. Called progressive photonics, the involves shooting photos of specimens under a range of lighting environments. The goal of the technique is to broaden the kind of information that can be extracted from fossils by diversifying and improving photo documentation.

The results can be stunning.

The splashes of color that appear under UV light are nowhere to be seen under normal lighting. Bone and plaster blend perfectly together – making for a pretty skull, but a lousy scientific specimen. Credit: University of Texas at Austin
× close
The splashes of color that appear under UV light are nowhere to be seen under normal lighting. Bone and plaster blend perfectly together – making for a pretty skull, but a lousy scientific specimen. Credit: University of Texas at Austin
Putting fossils under new lights offers new views. No one knew that this tiny fossilized shark, only a few centimeters long, had its gill anatomy preserved until it was examined under UVB illumination (right). In turn, a picture taken under polarized light (left) shows the outline of the body and vertebrae, which is further enhanced when the shark is viewed under oblique visible light (middle). Credit: University of Texas at Austin
× close
Putting fossils under new lights offers new views. No one knew that this tiny fossilized shark, only a few centimeters long, had its gill anatomy preserved until it was examined under UVB illumination (right). In turn, a picture taken under polarized light (left) shows the outline of the body and vertebrae, which is further enhanced when the shark is viewed under oblique visible light (middle). Credit: University of Texas at Austin
UV light is also the key to seeing the bright blue adhesive crisscrossing this fossil gar fish and filling its middle (right). The fossil looks pristine under normal lighting conditions (left). But UVA illumination shows that the fish was found in pieces. The collection that owns the specimen was well-aware of the gar’s fractured past. The picture proves that even for the most complete looking specimens, there can be more than meets the eye. Credit: University of Texas at Austin
× close
UV light is also the key to seeing the bright blue adhesive crisscrossing this fossil gar fish and filling its middle (right). The fossil looks pristine under normal lighting conditions (left). But UVA illumination shows that the fish was found in pieces. The collection that owns the specimen was well-aware of the gar’s fractured past. The picture proves that even for the most complete looking specimens, there can be more than meets the eye. Credit: University of Texas at Austin
Credit: University of Texas at Austin

More information: More aboout progressive photonics: www.jsg.utexas.edu/news/2019/0 … of-fossils-to-light/

Michael J. Eklund et al. 2018. Progressive Photonics: Methods and applications of sequential imaging using visible and non-visible spectra to enhance data-yield and facilitate forensic interpretation of fossils. Journal of Paleontological Techniques 20:
1-36. www.jpaleontologicaltechniques.org/pasta3/JPT%20N20/Pdf/JPT_n020_Out.pdf

Provided by University of Texas at Austin

Load comments (0)

Astronomers apply machine learning techniques to find early-universe quasars in an ocean of data

2 minutes ago

How artificial intelligence can help prevent illegal wildlife trade

52 minutes ago
dialog

Astronomers discover dozens of double-lined double white dwarf binaries

1 hour ago
report

Canadian wildfire smoke dispersal worsened by coincident cyclones, study suggests

3 hours ago
feature

Air pollution harms pollinators more than pests, study finds

4 hours ago

Hexagonal metallic-mean approximants help bridge gap between quasicrystals and modulated structures

4 hours ago

Opening the right doors: New work reveals 'jumping gene' control mechanisms

4 hours ago

Researchers develop model to study heavy-quark recombination in quark-gluon plasma

5 hours ago

New method achieves tenfold increase in quantum coherence time via destructive interference of correlated noise

17 hours ago

Mars likely had cold and icy past, new study finds

17 hours ago

Study: Nanoparticle vaccines enhance cross-protection against influenza viruses

17 hours ago