Photo: Tiny Fossils Reveal Warm Antarctic Past

Email to a Friend << Back to Full Story


Fourteen-million-year-old fossils of ancient crustacean-like animals were found recently in an ancient lake bed in the Dry Valleys region in Antarctica.

The diversity of the pinhead-size ostracods (above, one of the finds) are likely the last remnants of a warmer Antarctica, before a massive and intense climate cooling set in, scientists say.

Image courtesy Mark Williams/University of Leicester

MOST VIEWED NEWS

PICTURES: 2012 Doomsday Myths Debunked

2012: Six End-of-the-World Myths Debunked

APOCALYPSE PICTURES: 10 Failed Doomsday Prophecies
NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today's National Geographic Photo of the Day

• Today's Photo

• Download as Wallpaper

50 Drives of a Lifetime

National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get drive directions, quizzes, photos, and more.