Annie Spellman, age 12, Yadkinville, N,C,, for her question:

Can amber tell us about ancient life?

Amber can tell about plant and animal life that existed millions of years in the past. It may even tell of changes in the earth's crust, It is formed from the resin which oozes from certain conifer trees. At first, the ooze is moist and tacky. An insect or a scrap of foliage may become hopelessly trapped in this gooey gobs it dries and hardens, the little prisoner is frozen forever in a glassy comb, in a 1amp of amber which looks like frozen honey.

Ants and flies now extinct have been found preserved perfectly in a gob of golden amber after millions of years. Even the gauzy wings may be preserved.

Since amber comes from conifer trees, we know that these trees once grew where amber is now found. A lot of amber is washed up on the shores of the North and Baltic Seas. This tells us that these regions were not always under water. They were once dry land where forests flourished.