New techniques have seen fossils unprecedented

Scientists created the first three-dimensional picture of tiny fossils dating back to 850 million years, using pre-existing laser technology. They did not even have to smash the rocks around the fossil.

In the future, this technique could help researchers figure out when life really started on Earth and determine if life forms existed on Mars.

A 650 million year old fossil from Kazakhstan.Top: normal photos of cyanobacterium fossils.Middle: photograph taken by technique and focal point of that fossil specimen.Left bottom: close-up view of an optical image with the same focus.Right bottom: Raman chemical image of the selected area.( Photo: LiveScience )

Geologists have struggled to study these ancient single-celled organisms because of their size - about one-fifth of the diameter of a human hair - making it extremely difficult to find and photograph. .

Previous two-dimensional images only allowed researchers to reasonably deduce about their size and shape. With two new techniques applied: microscopy confocal laser scanning (CLSM - Ramus spectroscopy) and Raman spectroscopy, they can now study inside the blocks to search for signs of life.

" Now we are able to observe microscopic microscopic fibers in 3D, inside rocks, with all their marvelous beauty ," said J. William Schopf, head of the university research team. Los Angeles, California, said.

Initially, CLSM technology was developed to understand the structure of living cells. It creates high-resolution 3-dimensional images of specimens. Meanwhile, the Raman spectroscopy technique is used in the field of chemistry, to visualize molecules and chemical structures of microorganisms in three-dimensional space. Raman spectroscopy will help determine whether the fossils are actually biological specimens or just ancient rocks.

Both techniques use lasers to illuminate a fossil. Carbon molecules will glow fluorescence when encountering a laser beam. By recording all the spots with fluorescence, the scientists will connect bright spots and create 2D images of fossils. From so many 2D images, computers will create 3D models, which can be managed to look at every angle - something that was almost impossible before.

Unlike other exaggerated techniques that rely on powerful microscopes, the new process ensures that the tiny fossil remains still in the rock and is not damaged or contaminated.

T. An