Book 5, Question 34
Time Capsule in Gold! Why Is Amber So Special?
Amber is special because this hardened tree resin can trap and preserve tiny insects and plants in fine detail.
Amber is hardened tree resin, a sticky sap that slowly turned solid over a very long time. Sometimes a tiny insect or spider got stuck in the resin before it hardened. Inside amber, delicate details can be kept safe for scientists to study.
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Quick answers
What is resin for?
Some trees make resin, a sticky goo that oozes out to seal cracks and wounds, a bit like a scab.
Sources: National Geographic, Science News Explores, BBC
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 5
More fun facts
- Amber is fossilized tree resin.
- Some trees make resin, a sticky goo that oozes out to seal cracks and wounds, a bit like a scab.
- Small creatures can get stuck in the resin as it oozes down a tree.
- Over time the resin hardens and can become amber, preserving insects and plants inside in fine detail.
- In the Amazon, amber with tiny flies and gnats trapped 10 to 15 million years ago shows rainforests grew there long ago.
- The world's largest amber flower may be up to 40 million years old, with its petals, stem and pollen still preserved.
Sources: National Geographic, Science News Explores, BBC
Questions kids ask
How does amber trap insects?
Sticky resin oozes from a tree and traps small creatures. Over a very long time, it hardens into amber.