A Chinese team has unearthed the world’s oldest verified amber in the Xinjiang region of northwestern China. Dated to 385 million years ago, the amber predates previously known samples by 65 million years. This remarkable find suggests plants were already developing resin-based defenses against potential damage much earlier than previously thought—even before many damaging animal species existed. The amber was discovered within coal seams in the West Junggar region, an area formed by ancient tectonic plate collisions. The discovery challenges existing theories about the evolution of plant defenses and offers new insights into ancient ecosystems. Scientists believe the amber's preservation offers a unique window into the early stages of plant adaptation.