New research published in Nature reveals that about 90 million years ago, Antarctica wasn't a frozen wasteland but a lush, swampy rainforest teeming with plant and animal life.
Scientists discovered a well-preserved network of roots, pollen, and even intact cell structures in a sediment core taken near the Pine Island Glacier, suggesting the area once experienced warm, humid conditions similar to modern-day New Zealand.
These findings point to a time during the Cretaceous period when global temperatures and CO₂ levels were much higher than previously estimated, with average air temperatures around 54°F and summer temperatures reaching 66°F, even without sunlight for part of the year.
While this discovery reshapes our understanding of Earth’s climate history, researchers are still trying to understand what triggered Antarctica's dramatic cooling and the eventual formation of its vast ice sheets.
