Bacteria trapped in suspended animation inside salt crystals for 250 million years have been revived and cultured by US scientists. Designated Bacillus 2-9-3, this species is ten times older than the previous oldest revived bacteria.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_978000/978774.stm



http://www.wcupa.edu/%5Facademics/sch%5Fcas.bio/faculty/russ/russ.htm