I haven't seen this one mentioned here, so I thought I'd pass it on.
What sorts of diseases did it protect against?  Could it have any value
to modern bees?
 
Jane B.
 
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A bacteria that hibernated as a spore for  at  least  25  million
years  is  awake and thriving after researchers recovered it from
the gut of a bee that had been preserved in amber.  Raul J.  Cano
of  California  Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, said the
bacteria makes a natural antibiotic that  kills  other  bacteria,
helping  to keep the bee hive free of disease. This natural anti-
biotic is now being analyzed for possible use in medicine.  (AP)