Dragonfly fossil, about 150 million years old, in Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany

© Ingo Arndt/Minden Picture

In praise of the old … the very old

This well preserved dragonfly fossil was discovered in Solnhofen, Germany, where limestone deposits have revealed some of the most detailed fossils ever found—including the bird-like dinosaur called Archaeopteryx. This dragonfly was preserved in the Solnhofen limestone about 150 million years ago in the Jurassic Period. It measures about 5.5 inches across. Fossils are often discovered on public lands like national parks and reserves, so these might be a good place to start, if you want to know more about fossils. And then, there’s always the Bing search if you want to look online.