Antarctica: Scientists Discover 5-Million-Year-Old Ice Core Revealing Ancient Climate Secrets

Scientists in Antarctica have discovered an ice core containing air bubbles estimated to be over five million years old. This ice core acts as a time capsule, preserving samples of Earth's ancient atmosphere, including gases, dust, volcanic ash, and soot from wildfires. Located in the Ong Valley of the Transantarctic Mountains, the 10-meter-long ice core was dated using cosmogenic nuclide dating. Analysis revealed two main layers: one approximately 2.95 million years old and another between 4.3 and 5.1 million years old, confirming preservation of significant Pliocene period data. The findings suggest that parts of Antarctica's ice remained intact even during warm periods in the past, indicating a more resilient ice sheet than previously thought. Scientists plan further analysis to understand ice and climate behavior millions of years ago, potentially providing insights into current global warming.