Scientists discover preserved blood vessels in T. rex fossil
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · Apr 26
Scientists discover preserved blood vessels in T. rex fossil
9 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Apr 26
Researchers used synchrotron X-rays to identify iron-rich blood vessels in a rib of Scotty, the largest T. rex, housed at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Canada.
The preserved vessels were found in a partially healed rib fracture, offering rare insight into dinosaur injury recovery and survival strategies. The findings were published in Scientific Reports by a University of Regina-led team.
This breakthrough demonstrates how advanced imaging can reveal soft tissues in fossils, guiding future discoveries and deepening understanding of dinosaur biology, healing, and their evolutionary links to modern birds.
We've found T. rex blood vessels. How much closer are we to discovering actual dinosaur DNA?
How does finding blood vessels change the life story of a T. rex that may have lived 40 years?
Are these truly dinosaur blood vessels, or a complex illusion created by ancient microbes?
What future tech will unlock the next secrets hidden deep inside the world's most famous fossils?
Could T. rex fossils teach us how to find signs of ancient life on other planets like Mars?
Iron-Mediated Preservation of Dinosaur Blood Vessels Uncovered in Scotty’s Healing Rib (2025–2026)
Overview
In 2025-2026, researchers led by Mitchell and Barbi made a groundbreaking discovery of mineralized blood vessels preserved within the healing rib of Scotty, the largest known Tyrannosaurus rex. Using advanced synchrotron X-ray imaging, they revealed these delicate structures non-destructively. The preservation was driven by Scotty's rib injury, which increased blood flow and iron concentration, triggering chemical reactions that cross-linked vessel proteins and mineralized them with iron and manganese. This healing process also stimulated new blood vessel growth, reflecting active tissue repair similar to modern birds and reptiles, supporting their evolutionary link. Despite some skepticism, this discovery challenges old fossilization assumptions and opens new paths for studying dinosaur biology with cutting-edge imaging technologies.