Researchers have unlocked new insights into ancient life by analysing metabolic molecules preserved in fossilized bones that are 1.3 to 3 million years old. The study, led by scientists at New York University, shows that bones can retain thousands of tiny chemical traces. These traces reveal not just what animals ate but also the environments they lived in and the diseases they carried.

Traditionally, fossils offer information about bones and physical form, but they rarely reveal deeper biological details. Now, scientists are using metabolomics — the study of molecules produced by metabolism — to explore ancient biology in unprecedented detail. Because these tiny molecules remain trapped inside bones over millions of years, they act like microscopic time capsules.

🔬 Metabolites Reveal Diet and Disease

The team analysed bones from a variety of ancient animals, including rodents, antelope, pigs, and elephants. They found more than 2,000 metabolites — the molecules involved in daily biological processes like digestion and energy use. Many of these chemical signatures relate directly to diet, showing what kinds of plants the animals consumed.

In one remarkable case, a ground squirrel fossil contained metabolites linked to a parasite that causes sleeping sickness in humans today. This discovery suggests that some prehistoric animals suffered from similar diseases to those still observed in the modern world. The metabolic evidence also revealed proteins and markers linked to sex, showing that fossil chemistry can offer insights into ancient biological traits beyond anatomy alone.

🌍 Ancient Environments Come Into Focus

Metabolite profiles also helped scientists reconstruct aspects of ancient climate and habitat. For example, compounds associated with specific plants, like aloe and asparagus, indicated what vegetation existed in those prehistoric regions. Combined with geological research, this evidence paints a richer picture of wetter and warmer landscapes than are found in the same areas today.

These findings suggest that fossil metabolomics can complement traditional palaeontology. Instead of relying solely on bone shape or fossilised remains, scientists can now examine biochemical evidence to learn more about ancient ecosystems and how animals adapted or suffered within them.

🧬 Metabolic Preservation and Its Implications

The research team discovered that collagen, the protein that helps form bone structure, can preserve not just itself but also thousands of associated metabolic molecules. This challenges the assumption that most biological chemistry decays entirely over deep time. Because collagen molecules remain intact, they act as a scaffold that protects these chemicals, allowing them to persist for millions of years.

Scientists used mass spectrometry to identify and measure these metabolites. This technique turns molecules into charged particles, helping researchers catalogue them with high precision. Analysing both modern and fossil bones showed that many metabolites visible in living animals are also detectable in ancient ones, providing continuity from the past to the present.

🧠 A New Tool for Palaeontology

Experts say that this metabolomic approach could transform how prehistoric life is studied. Unlike DNA, which often degrades quickly, these metabolic chemicals offer a robust signal of ancient biology. They provide insight not only into the animals themselves but also into their diets, diseases, and ecosystems with chemical specificity.

The study opens doors for future research into ancient environments, behaviour, and health. Scientists now hope to apply similar methods to other fossil sites around the world to build more detailed pictures of ancient life.