Science is apparently following the flight path of popular culture after scientists made an amazing discovery in prehistoric amber.
But instead of the blood-filled mosquito that helped fictional men of science recreate dinosaurs in "Jurassic Park," this time the real brains behind the science found two small bird wings encased in amber, The Washington Post reported.
The wings are 99 million years old and still show tiny bones, even smaller veins and feathers all preserved in their natural cocoon.
Ryan McKellar has been studying anything that was trapped, and eventually preserved, in the ancient tree sap. He said this is the first time he's ever seen something like this, the Post reported.
"It gives us all the details we could hope for. It's the next best thing to having the animal in your hand," McKellar said.
McKellar said that the wings are the best remains of wings from the Cretaceous period anyone has found, and it helps scientists study the lives of the animals, as well as the evolution of the species.
The specimen, which was found in Burma, also known as Myanmar, is being called "Angel" because it was originally going to be used as part of a pendant called "Angel's Wings," National Geographic reported.
Burmese amber is unregulated and is usually sold to make jewelry and decorative carvings. The wing samples were bought at an amber market in Myitkyina.
About 30 percent of the amber mined in Burma contains some sort of fossils.
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