These worm-like features are thought to represent the fossilized tracks of slime-mold like organisms in 2.1 billion year-old rocks. While most fossils we're familiar with come directly from the bodies of organisms, trace fossils come from other evidence such as tracks or tunnels. El Albani contacted Mangano and Buatois a few years ago for help figuring out the origin of strange worm-like cords of the mineral pyrite in some 2.1 billion-year-old rocks. El Albani shared detailed CT scans of the structures, some of which were as long and as thick as a pencil. Controversial discoveryNot everyone is convinced that the fossils show evidence of multicellular organisms or organisms that could move.

Source: CBC News February 15, 2019 09:00 UTC