One day some 30 million years ago, the tiny scorpion on this page made a false step. Perhaps it was skittering down the trunk of a shady tree when it found itself stuck in some saplike resin. Over millions of years, that resin grew dryer and harder. Finally it turned into a material called amber. The scorpion remained perfectly preserved in a golden prison.
Amber is nature's time capsule. Scientists have found insects that date to the age of dinosaurs preserved in amber. Author Michael Crichton used this fact when he wrote his book Jurassic Park. Where did Jurassic Park's scientists get dinosaur genes? From amber.
Last month a scientist announced the discovery of an important amber fossil: three tiny flowers 90 million years old. Found in New Jersey, they are the oldest whole flowers ever seen.
Amber As Art
Because amber is beautiful, it is valued for reasons other than science. For centuries people have used amber to make jewelry and sculpture. To the ancient Etruscans, who lived in what is now Italy, amber was as precious as gold. But not all amber is golden. Some is white, red or green.
This week the artistic and scientific splendors of amber will go on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The objects on this page are three of the 240 that will be shown.