Scientists stumble upon a new part of a cell in one of the most studied animals on Earth

black and white microscopic image shows two swirly oval shapes with black dots speckling their surfaces

A phosphate-regulating organelle has been discovered in animals for the first time. Until now, only bacteria, yeast and plants have been known to have comparable features.

Despite scientists studying fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) for more than a century, the newfound organelle has only just been discovered in the insect. Now researchers are taking a retrospective look at older data in search of these elusive cell parts.