Dry, scaly skin during winter is a common issue for many. Scientists recently discovered the oldest-known piece of fossilized skin, shedding light on the evolution of skin. The small fossil, believed to have belonged to an ancient reptile, was found in the Richards Spur limestone cave system in southwestern Oklahoma. The conditions of the cave system led to excellent preservation of prehistoric life, with clay sediments rapidly burying the bodies and hydrocarbons from oil seeping into the fossils. The researchers were excited by the unique texture of the fossilized tissue, which resembled the scaly skin of a crocodile.
