In 1979, miners in Alaska struck paydirt when hydraulic hoses exposed a 36,000-year-old steppe bison nicknamed “Blue Babe.” Kept by permafrost, the carcass retained soft tissues and skin—rare for Ice Age finds. Researchers say the preservation offers fresh clues about how the animal lived, what it ate, and what may have happened in its final moments.
Scientists have revived a 24000 year old bdelloid rotifer from Siberian permafrost, a microscopic “zombie worm” that can withstand freezing, starvation, and even reproduce without a partner. The breakthrough underscores how resilient life can be in extreme conditions, while also raising new worries that thawing Arctic permafrost could awaken ancient microbes and mobilize stored carbon.
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