Ancient DNA reveals what the Arctic was like two million years ago
Published
10 December 2022
Researchers found traces of plants and animals that lived in the north of Greenland two million years ago!
What was the Arctic like two million years ago?
From evidence of giant elephant-like creatures called Mastodons wandering about, to deer and even crabs, scientists have been studying ancient environmental DNA (or eDNA) which was found in the soil in a polar desert in North Greenland.
The eDNA also revealed that North Greenland used to be much warmer than it is now.
The average yearly temperatures in Greenland today can range from -50C in winter, to around 16C in the summer, but two million years ago they were around 11-19C hotter.
But just how did Professor Eske Willerslev and his team unlock the secrets found in the ancient DNA? Find out below...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/63899367
