An international team of geologists has uncovered buried fragments of Gondwana, revealing that the ancient supercontinent was far larger than previously believed. By mapping neodymium isotopes across more than 25,000 rock samples, researchers found evidence that Gondwana covered at least 80% of Earth’s continental landmass around 500 million years ago.

25,000 rock samples reveal Gondwana's scale

Scientists have found the remains of the ancient landmass Gondwana, which they have now confirmed was a supercontinent. The discovery has shown that Gondwana was huge and accounted for roughly 80 per cent of Earth’s landmass. It formed between 800 and 500 million years ago in the Southern Hemisphere and played a crucial role in the birth of complex life on Earth.&nbsp;A study published in Science Advances on Wednesday (Sep 9) stated that over 25,000 ancient rocks were gathered to reconstruct the borders of Gondwana. While till now it was believed to have spread over two-thirds of Earth’s land, it has now been revealed that it occupied nearly 80 per cent of Earth's land.<h2>Emergence of complex life on Earth</h2>The Cambrian explosion, which happened about 538 million years ago and led to complex life sprouting on Earth, happened because of the formation of Gondwana. The study authors stated that this shows that complex processes happening deep inside Earth became the reason for most of the life we see today around us. For billions of years before this, only simple microbial organisms existed on our planet.&nbsp;The discovery was made by an international collaboration called Deep-time Digital Earth. The group gathered thousands of magmatic rocks from this region and created a database to understand their origins. The team used AI and other modern techniques to identify when and where these rocks formed. This helped them reconstruct other continents that were ever on Earth.<h2>Gondwana rocks were strewn across Earth</h2>After they created the global map, they found that pieces from Gondwana had broken and scattered across the planet because of millions of years of tectonic activity. Isotopes of the elements samarium and neodymium emerged as the "fingerprints" of Gondwana and were found embedded inside younger rocks.&nbsp;Collins called "the samarium-neodymium isotope maps" a time machine that takes them back in time. Their "spatial character that allows us to recognise an ancient continental landmass that formed 500 million years ago," he said. Earth was cold before the Cambrian explosion. Geological processes that shaped Gondwana formed the Ring of Fire, which releases a huge amount of volcanic gases into the atmosphere that warmed the planet.&nbsp;The team plans to map out the supercontinent in more detail using the database and hopes to solve other mysteries surrounding Earth.

Gondwana is an ancient continent which scientists have now confirmed was a supercontinent that spread over 80 per cent of the landmass on Earth. They found 25,000 ancient rocks, and AI helped them determine that they belonged to Gondwana 500 million years ago.

Scientists have found the remains of the ancient landmass Gondwana, which they have now confirmed was a supercontinent. The discovery has shown that Gondwana was huge and accounted for roughly 80 per cent of Earth’s landmass. It formed between 800 and 500 million years ago in the Southern Hemisphere and played a crucial role in the birth of complex life on Earth. A study published in Science Advances on Wednesday (Sep 9) stated that over 25,000 ancient rocks were gathered to reconstruct the borders of Gondwana. While till now it was believed to have spread over two-thirds of Earth’s land, it has now been revealed that it occupied nearly 80 per cent of Earth's land. Emergence of complex life on Earth The Cambrian explosion, which happened about 538 million years ago and led to complex life sprouting on Earth, happened because of the formation of Gondwana. The study authors stated that this shows that complex processes happening deep inside Earth became the reason for most of the life we see today around us. For billions of years before this, only simple microbial organisms existed on our planet. The discovery was made by an international collaboration called Deep-time Digital Earth. The group gathered thousands of magmatic rocks from this region and created a database to understand their origins. The team used AI and other modern techniques to identify when and where these rocks formed. This helped them reconstruct other continents that were ever on Earth. Gondwana rocks were strewn across Earth After they created the global map, they found that pieces from Gondwana had broken and scattered across the planet because of millions of years of tectonic activity. Isotopes of the elements samarium and neodymium emerged as the "fingerprints" of Gondwana and were found embedded inside younger rocks. Collins called "the samarium-neodymium isotope maps" a time machine that takes them back in time. Their "spatial character that allows us to recognise an ancient continental landmass that formed 500 million years ago," he said. Earth was cold before the Cambrian explosion. Geological processes that shaped Gondwana formed the Ring of Fire, which releases a huge amount of volcanic gases into the atmosphere that warmed the planet. The team plans to map out the supercontinent in more detail using the database and hopes to solve other mysteries surrounding Earth.

Gondwana is an ancient continent which scientists have now confirmed was a supercontinent that spread over 80 per cent of the landmass on Earth. They found 25,000 ancient rocks, and AI helped them determine that they belonged to Gondwana 500 million years ago.

800 million years old - Scientists discover 'fingerprints' of supercontinent Gondwana in ancient rocks

Under the Indian Ocean lie the remnants of the ancient subcontinent of Mauritia, which some people think is the same as the lost continent of Lemuria. The latter was proposed in the 19th century to explain the discovery of lemur fossils in India and Madagascar, which were divided by the Indian Ocean. Those who believe in Lemuria also say that an ancient civilisation resided on this continent, including a species with alien DNA and humanoids who laid eggs, but were killed by a nuclear war.&nbsp;Scientists are trying to piece together an actual landmass that sank in the region known as Mauritia. This geological piece of land fell into the ocean when an ancient supercontinent broke apart. Supporters of the theory believe Lemuria and Mauritia are the same, even though no signs or remains of any civilisation preceding humans have been discovered.<h2>Fossil discovery in India and Madagascar</h2>Lemur fossils were found in India and Madagascar, but not in Africa, even though the continent was much closer to Madagascar. In an attempt to explain this anomaly, British zoologist and biogeographer Philip Sclater proposed in 1846 that a piece of land connected the two regions but sank to the bottom of the ocean. "In Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands we have existing relics of this great continent, for which... I should propose the name Lemuria!" he wrote. Since then, a bunch of people have amplified this theory, despite no evidence even being found.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/1-500-year-old-map-archaeologists-lost-city-of-tharais-byzantine-empire-jordan-1749642626966">The lost city of Tharais once part of Jordan's Holy Lands has been found</a> &nbsp;Later, scientists discovered that India and Madagascar were once part of the same supercontinent, pushing the Lemuria theory out of the picture. But conspiracy theorists continued to peddle the belief about Lemuria, linking it to humans with alien DNA in them. The 1888 book, The Secret Doctrine, by spiritualist Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, talked of bodiless Hyperboreans and Lemurians that laid eggs. She claimed that the discovery of sex became responsible for the sinking of Lemuria, while others attributed their end to a massive earthquake.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/lost-nile-city-discovered-details-about-religion-and-cobra-goddess-wadjet-revealed-1751444188676">Lost Nile city discovered: Details of religion and Cobra Goddess Wadjet revealed</a><h2>Underground city of Lemurians?</h2>However, some Lemurians are believed to have escaped and established an underground city in Mount Shasta, Northern California. These seven-foot-tall Lemurians are merely conjecture, and no evidence has ever been found. The beliefs were strengthened after British author James Churchward talked about another lost continent named Mu, where a technologically advanced civilisation flourished 50,000 years ago.<h2>Nuclear war in Lemuria</h2>Another theory about Lemuria is that refugees from a planet called Maldek came to Earth and lived on this landmass after they destroyed their own home between Mars and Jupiter with a hydrogen bomb. This is how the asteroid belt was formed, some claim. However, they then had their own nuclear war on Earth, with believers pointing to the discovery of melted glass in the deserts of Libya.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Mauritia was first described in 2013, with more details being revealed in 2017. It was part of Gondwanaland, a supercontinent that existed 200 million years ago. Scientists are now working to determine the size and shape of Mauritia.

Scientists have been studying Mauritia, a landmass that sank into the Indian Ocean when the supercontinent Gondwana broke apart. While this is a real body, some people think it is actually Lemuria, a lost continent hypothesised in the 19th century.   

Under the Indian Ocean lie the remnants of the ancient subcontinent of Mauritia, which some people think is the same as the lost continent of Lemuria. The latter was proposed in the 19th century to explain the discovery of lemur fossils in India and Madagascar, which were divided by the Indian Ocean. Those who believe in Lemuria also say that an ancient civilisation resided on this continent, including a species with alien DNA and humanoids who laid eggs, but were killed by a nuclear war. Scientists are trying to piece together an actual landmass that sank in the region known as Mauritia. This geological piece of land fell into the ocean when an ancient supercontinent broke apart. Supporters of the theory believe Lemuria and Mauritia are the same, even though no signs or remains of any civilisation preceding humans have been discovered. Fossil discovery in India and Madagascar Lemur fossils were found in India and Madagascar, but not in Africa, even though the continent was much closer to Madagascar. In an attempt to explain this anomaly, British zoologist and biogeographer Philip Sclater proposed in 1846 that a piece of land connected the two regions but sank to the bottom of the ocean. "In Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands we have existing relics of this great continent, for which... I should propose the name Lemuria!" he wrote. Since then, a bunch of people have amplified this theory, despite no evidence even being found. Also Read: The lost city of Tharais once part of Jordan's Holy Lands has been found Later, scientists discovered that India and Madagascar were once part of the same supercontinent, pushing the Lemuria theory out of the picture. But conspiracy theorists continued to peddle the belief about Lemuria, linking it to humans with alien DNA in them. The 1888 book, The Secret Doctrine, by spiritualist Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, talked of bodiless Hyperboreans and Lemurians that laid eggs. She claimed that the discovery of sex became responsible for the sinking of Lemuria, while others attributed their end to a massive earthquake. Also Read: Lost Nile city discovered: Details of religion and Cobra Goddess Wadjet revealed Underground city of Lemurians? However, some Lemurians are believed to have escaped and established an underground city in Mount Shasta, Northern California. These seven-foot-tall Lemurians are merely conjecture, and no evidence has ever been found. The beliefs were strengthened after British author James Churchward talked about another lost continent named Mu, where a technologically advanced civilisation flourished 50,000 years ago. Nuclear war in Lemuria Another theory about Lemuria is that refugees from a planet called Maldek came to Earth and lived on this landmass after they destroyed their own home between Mars and Jupiter with a hydrogen bomb. This is how the asteroid belt was formed, some claim. However, they then had their own nuclear war on Earth, with believers pointing to the discovery of melted glass in the deserts of Libya. Meanwhile, Mauritia was first described in 2013, with more details being revealed in 2017. It was part of Gondwanaland, a supercontinent that existed 200 million years ago. Scientists are now working to determine the size and shape of Mauritia.

Scientists have been studying Mauritia, a landmass that sank into the Indian Ocean when the supercontinent Gondwana broke apart. While this is a real body, some people think it is actually Lemuria, a lost continent hypothesised in the 19th century. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Lost continent located between India and Madagascar could be Lemuria, believers claim

Scientists have discovered that dinosaurs roamed the polar environment in southern Australia when the country was still connected to Antarctica. This was during the Early Cretaceous period when large theropod dinosaurs lived in the icy cold region and moved around the river floodplains when the ice thawed during the summers.

The revelations have been presented in a study published in the journal Alcheringa. Dinosaur tracks were recently discovered in the Wonthaggi Formation south of Melbourne and were likely made between 120 million and 128 million years ago.

The tracks belonged to 18 theropod dinosaurs and four tracks were of ornithopods, that is small, herbivorous dinosaurs that theropods likely feasted on.

Anthony Martin, first author of the study, said, “These numerous tracks are the best evidence yet that these former polar environments supported large carnivores."

"The large theropods would likely have fed on prey such as smaller dinosaurs, fish and turtles."

Martin is also a professor in Emory University’s Department of Environmental Sciences.

Theropods walked on two legs and their feet had three, clawed toes.&nbsp;

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Co-authors of the study, Patricia Vickers-Rich, professor of palaeontology at Monash University, and Thomas Rich, curator of vertebrate palaeontology at Museums Victoria Research Institute, have been working for years to find fossils in the state of Victoria.&nbsp;

<h2>Where Gondwana broke up&nbsp;</h2>

Victoria is where the ancient supercontinent Gondwana started breaking up around 100 million years ago. Scientists say that at the time the dinosaurs lived here, the polar environment comprised a rift valley with braided rivers. During the polar winters, the region experienced deep freezing temperatures and darkness for months.

Several polar dinosaur body fossils have been found in the Wonthaggi Formation, but most of them are small fragments of bones and teeth. Earlier it was suggested that torrential spring floods likely washed them up to the region and buried them here.

But the latest discovery of tracks seems to suggest otherwise.

"Our find of so many theropod tracks, however, confirms that a variety of dinosaurs actually lived and walked on the ground where their bones were found," Martin says. "Dinosaur tracks are actually much more common at the site than we previously realised."

Co-author Melissa Lowery was the one who found more tracks mentioned in the latest study. The tracks were likely made when the dinosaurs were walking on wet sand or mud in the floodplain.&nbsp;

Scientists have discovered that dinosaurs roamed the polar environment in southern Australia when the country was still connected to Antarctica. This was during the Early Cretaceous period when large theropod dinosaurs lived in the icy cold region and moved around the river floodplains when the ice thawed during the summers.

Scientists have discovered that dinosaurs roamed the polar environment in southern Australia when the country was still connected to Antarctica. This was during the Early Cretaceous period when large theropod dinosaurs lived in the icy cold region and moved around the river floodplains when the ice thawed during the summers. The revelations have been presented in a study published in the journal Alcheringa. Dinosaur tracks were recently discovered in the Wonthaggi Formation south of Melbourne and were likely made between 120 million and 128 million years ago. The tracks belonged to 18 theropod dinosaurs and four tracks were of ornithopods, that is small, herbivorous dinosaurs that theropods likely feasted on. Anthony Martin, first author of the study, said, “These numerous tracks are the best evidence yet that these former polar environments supported large carnivores." "The large theropods would likely have fed on prey such as smaller dinosaurs, fish and turtles." Martin is also a professor in Emory University’s Department of Environmental Sciences. Theropods walked on two legs and their feet had three, clawed toes. Also Read: Earth snatched Moon from space and did not birth it, study suggests Co-authors of the study, Patricia Vickers-Rich, professor of palaeontology at Monash University, and Thomas Rich, curator of vertebrate palaeontology at Museums Victoria Research Institute, have been working for years to find fossils in the state of Victoria. Where Gondwana broke up Victoria is where the ancient supercontinent Gondwana started breaking up around 100 million years ago. Scientists say that at the time the dinosaurs lived here, the polar environment comprised a rift valley with braided rivers. During the polar winters, the region experienced deep freezing temperatures and darkness for months. Several polar dinosaur body fossils have been found in the Wonthaggi Formation, but most of them are small fragments of bones and teeth. Earlier it was suggested that torrential spring floods likely washed them up to the region and buried them here. But the latest discovery of tracks seems to suggest otherwise. "Our find of so many theropod tracks, however, confirms that a variety of dinosaurs actually lived and walked on the ground where their bones were found," Martin says. "Dinosaur tracks are actually much more common at the site than we previously realised." Co-author Melissa Lowery was the one who found more tracks mentioned in the latest study. The tracks were likely made when the dinosaurs were walking on wet sand or mud in the floodplain.

Giant carnivorous dinosaurs roamed freezing Australian region when it was part of Antarctica

Something catastrophic happened 100 million years ago that changed the way our planet evolved. Scientists say that several intense environmental events followed each other leading to the widespread extinctions of marine species.&nbsp;

Between 185 and 85 million years ago, a series of severe environmental crises, called oceanic anoxic events, took place. There hasn't been a viable explanation for it, until now. A study has thrown light on what caused these crises that critically depleted dissolved oxygen in the seas.

Experts from the University of Southampton said certain events triggered severe biological changes on Earth, including mass extinctions of marine species. The findings were recently published in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Lead author Tom Gernon, a Professor of Earth Science at Southampton, said, “Oceanic anoxic events were like hitting the reset button on the planet’s ecosystems. The challenge was understanding which geological forces hit the button.”

Scientists studied the impact of plate tectonic forces on ocean chemistry during the age of the dinosaurs, that is during the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. These periods combined are known as the Mesozoic era.

The researchers studied how the breaking up of the supercontinent Gondwana could have affected chemical cycles in the ocean. Notably, Gondwana was the great landmass which comprised&nbsp;around two-thirds of today's continental area. This is the land where once dinosaurs walked the Earth.

Professor Gernon said, “The Mesozoic era witnessed the breakup of this landmass, in turn bringing intense volcanic activity worldwide. As tectonic plates shifted and new seafloors formed, large amounts of phosphorus, a nutrient essential for life, were released from weathering volcanic rocks into the oceans."

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"Crucially, we found evidence of multiple pulses of chemical weathering on both the seafloor and continents, which alternately disrupted the oceans.”

“It’s like a geological tag team,” said Prof Gernon.

<h2>What killed marine life?</h2>

The study authors noticed that the timing of these pulses matched the most oceanic anoxic events in the rock record.

The influx of phosphorus to the ocean boosted the growth of marines but came at a major cost for marine ecosystems. Huge amounts of organic matter sank to the ocean floor and consumed large quantities of oxygen, co-author Benjamin Mills, a Professor of Earth System Evolution at the University of Leeds, said.&nbsp;

He added, “This process eventually caused swathes of the oceans to become anoxic, or oxygen-depleted, creating ‘dead zones’ where most marine life perished."

The events lasted around one to two million years and impacted marine ecosystems immensely and the effects continue to reverberate even today.

Something catastrophic happened 100 million years ago that changed the way our planet evolved. Scientists say that several intense environmental events followed each other leading to the widespread extinctions of marine species.

Something catastrophic happened 100 million years ago that changed the way our planet evolved. Scientists say that several intense environmental events followed each other leading to the widespread extinctions of marine species. Between 185 and 85 million years ago, a series of severe environmental crises, called oceanic anoxic events, took place. There hasn't been a viable explanation for it, until now. A study has thrown light on what caused these crises that critically depleted dissolved oxygen in the seas. Experts from the University of Southampton said certain events triggered severe biological changes on Earth, including mass extinctions of marine species. The findings were recently published in the journal Nature Geoscience. Lead author Tom Gernon, a Professor of Earth Science at Southampton, said, “Oceanic anoxic events were like hitting the reset button on the planet’s ecosystems. The challenge was understanding which geological forces hit the button.” Scientists studied the impact of plate tectonic forces on ocean chemistry during the age of the dinosaurs, that is during the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. These periods combined are known as the Mesozoic era. The researchers studied how the breaking up of the supercontinent Gondwana could have affected chemical cycles in the ocean. Notably, Gondwana was the great landmass which comprised around two-thirds of today's continental area. This is the land where once dinosaurs walked the Earth. Professor Gernon said, “The Mesozoic era witnessed the breakup of this landmass, in turn bringing intense volcanic activity worldwide. As tectonic plates shifted and new seafloors formed, large amounts of phosphorus, a nutrient essential for life, were released from weathering volcanic rocks into the oceans." Also Read: 139,000-year-old stone tools discovered in Andhra Pradesh. Who made them? "Crucially, we found evidence of multiple pulses of chemical weathering on both the seafloor and continents, which alternately disrupted the oceans.” “It’s like a geological tag team,” said Prof Gernon. What killed marine life? The study authors noticed that the timing of these pulses matched the most oceanic anoxic events in the rock record. The influx of phosphorus to the ocean boosted the growth of marines but came at a major cost for marine ecosystems. Huge amounts of organic matter sank to the ocean floor and consumed large quantities of oxygen, co-author Benjamin Mills, a Professor of Earth System Evolution at the University of Leeds, said. He added, “This process eventually caused swathes of the oceans to become anoxic, or oxygen-depleted, creating ‘dead zones’ where most marine life perished." The events lasted around one to two million years and impacted marine ecosystems immensely and the effects continue to reverberate even today.

Gondwana, land of dinosaurs, tore apart causing mass extinction in the seas

Every now and then certain stable parts of the continents on Earth begin to rise and develop into some stunning topographic features. The reason why this happens has now been revealed. Scientists at the University of Southampton studied plate tectonics to find out how did this happen. They say that tectonic plates often break apart, and this triggers powerful waves deep within the Earth. This event causes continental surfaces to rise, sometimes by over a kilometre.

Scientists have been trying to understand for years how these topographical features known as "escarpments" and "plateaus" come into existence. The findings published in the journal Nature are a result of studying the impact of global tectonic forces on landscape evolution over hundreds of millions of years.&nbsp;

"Scientists have long suspected that steep kilometre-high topographic features called Great Escarpments—like the classic example encircling South Africa—are formed when continents rift and eventually split apart," Tom Gernon, Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southampton and lead author of the study said.

The researchers from the University of Southampton - Dr Thea Hincks, Dr Derek Keir, and Alice Cunningham - collaborated with colleagues from the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam—GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and the University of Birmingham. They tried to understand&nbsp;why stable parts of continents sometimes move vertically.

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<h2>The study&nbsp;</h2>

They discovered that continental crust stretches when continents split apart, and this stretching causes stirring movements in Earth's mantle. Professor Sascha Brune, who leads the Geodynamic Modelling Section at GFZ Potsdam, said, "This process can be compared to a sweeping motion that moves towards the continents and disturbs their deep foundations."

Professor Brune and Dr Anne Glerum then ran simulations and noted that the speed of the mantle "waves" moving under the continents was extremely close to the speed of major erosion events that happened in the landscape in Southern Africa following the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. They added that the Great Escarpments originate at the edges of ancient rift valleys. This led them to conclude that a rifting event also sets in motion a "deep mantle wave". This wave travels along the continent's base at about 15–20 kilometres per million years.

"Much like how a hot-air balloon sheds weight to rise higher, this loss of continental material causes the continents to rise—a process called isostasy," said Professor Brune.

Every now and then certain stable parts of the continents on Earth begin to rise and develop into some stunning topographic features. The reason why this happens has now been revealed.

Every now and then certain stable parts of the continents on Earth begin to rise and develop into some stunning topographic features. The reason why this happens has now been revealed. Scientists at the University of Southampton studied plate tectonics to find out how did this happen. They say that tectonic plates often break apart, and this triggers powerful waves deep within the Earth. This event causes continental surfaces to rise, sometimes by over a kilometre. Scientists have been trying to understand for years how these topographical features known as "escarpments" and "plateaus" come into existence. The findings published in the journal Nature are a result of studying the impact of global tectonic forces on landscape evolution over hundreds of millions of years. "Scientists have long suspected that steep kilometre-high topographic features called Great Escarpments—like the classic example encircling South Africa—are formed when continents rift and eventually split apart," Tom Gernon, Professor of Earth Science at the University of Southampton and lead author of the study said. The researchers from the University of Southampton - Dr Thea Hincks, Dr Derek Keir, and Alice Cunningham - collaborated with colleagues from the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam—GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences and the University of Birmingham. They tried to understand why stable parts of continents sometimes move vertically. Also Read: Sunita Williams staring at a MASSIVE delay in return trip, will likely return in 2025 The study They discovered that continental crust stretches when continents split apart, and this stretching causes stirring movements in Earth's mantle. Professor Sascha Brune, who leads the Geodynamic Modelling Section at GFZ Potsdam, said, "This process can be compared to a sweeping motion that moves towards the continents and disturbs their deep foundations." Professor Brune and Dr Anne Glerum then ran simulations and noted that the speed of the mantle "waves" moving under the continents was extremely close to the speed of major erosion events that happened in the landscape in Southern Africa following the breakup of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. They added that the Great Escarpments originate at the edges of ancient rift valleys. This led them to conclude that a rifting event also sets in motion a "deep mantle wave". This wave travels along the continent's base at about 15–20 kilometres per million years. "Much like how a hot-air balloon sheds weight to rise higher, this loss of continental material causes the continents to rise—a process called isostasy," said Professor Brune.

Continents have been mysteriously rising for years now. Scientists now know why

Scientists may have finally solved the world’s oldest ‘murder mystery’: The disappearance of a group of marine animals from ancient supercontinent Gondwana.

Gondwana used to be a supercontinent, from around 550 million years ago to approximately 180 million years ago, alongside Laurasia.

Gondwana incorporated present-day South America, Africa, Arabia, Madagascar, India, Australia, and Antarctica.

<h2>The 390-million-year-old murder mystery</h2>

It is believed that the so-called Malvinoxhosan biota — an ancient group of water-dwelling animals — disappeared from Gondwana over a period of five million years. What caused their disappearance remained a mystery for centuries.

Now, a recent study has pointed fingers towards climate change. The study, published on Oct 13 in the journal Earth-Science Reviews, found that climate change led to a dramatic fall in the sea levels, wiping out the group of marine animals.

"It's a 390-million-year-old murder mystery," said study lead author Cameron Penn-Clarke.

<h2>How climate change wiped off Malvinoxhosan biota?</h2>

According to the researchers, who reanalysed hundreds of fossils belonging to the Malvinoxhosan biota, the decrease in the water level was not directly responsible for their extinction but it triggered those climate changes that they couldn’t adapt to.

The drop in sea level disrupted ocean currents around the South Pole known as "circumpolar thermal barriers," which enabled warmer water from the equator to mix with colder southern waters.

Watch:&nbsp;Bird flu detected in Antarctica | Scientists create 'identical twin' universe

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But Malvinoxhosan biota animals were meant to survive in cool waters.

Eventually, they vanished and it led to a "complete collapse" of the ecosystem around the South Pole.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-ancient-tectonic-plate-that-disappeared-20-million-years-ago-650437">Also read:&nbsp;Scientists discover ancient tectonic plate that disappeared 20 million years ago</a>

"This research is important when we consider the biodiversity crisis we are facing in the present day," Penn-Clarke said.&nbsp;

"It demonstrates the sensitivity of polar environments and ecosystems to changes in sea level and temperature," he added, warning, "Any changes that occur are, unfortunately, permanent."

The study also revealed that the phenomenon which wiped off marine life from the South Pole millions of years ago has disturbing parallels to the situation today.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Scientists may have finally solved the world’s oldest ‘murder mystery’: The disappearance of a group of marine animals from ancient supercontinent Gondwana. Gondwana used to be a supercontinent, from around 550 million years ago to approximately 180 million years ago, alongside Laurasia.

Scientists may have finally solved the world’s oldest ‘murder mystery’: The disappearance of a group of marine animals from ancient supercontinent Gondwana. Gondwana used to be a supercontinent, from around 550 million years ago to approximately 180 million years ago, alongside Laurasia. Gondwana incorporated present-day South America, Africa, Arabia, Madagascar, India, Australia, and Antarctica. The 390-million-year-old murder mystery It is believed that the so-called Malvinoxhosan biota — an ancient group of water-dwelling animals — disappeared from Gondwana over a period of five million years. What caused their disappearance remained a mystery for centuries. Now, a recent study has pointed fingers towards climate change. The study, published on Oct 13 in the journal Earth-Science Reviews, found that climate change led to a dramatic fall in the sea levels, wiping out the group of marine animals. "It's a 390-million-year-old murder mystery," said study lead author Cameron Penn-Clarke. How climate change wiped off Malvinoxhosan biota? According to the researchers, who reanalysed hundreds of fossils belonging to the Malvinoxhosan biota, the decrease in the water level was not directly responsible for their extinction but it triggered those climate changes that they couldn’t adapt to. The drop in sea level disrupted ocean currents around the South Pole known as "circumpolar thermal barriers," which enabled warmer water from the equator to mix with colder southern waters. Watch: Bird flu detected in Antarctica | Scientists create 'identical twin' universe × But Malvinoxhosan biota animals were meant to survive in cool waters. Eventually, they vanished and it led to a "complete collapse" of the ecosystem around the South Pole. Also read: Scientists discover ancient tectonic plate that disappeared 20 million years ago "This research is important when we consider the biodiversity crisis we are facing in the present day," Penn-Clarke said. "It demonstrates the sensitivity of polar environments and ecosystems to changes in sea level and temperature," he added, warning, "Any changes that occur are, unfortunately, permanent." The study also revealed that the phenomenon which wiped off marine life from the South Pole millions of years ago has disturbing parallels to the situation today. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

A 390-million-year-old murder mystery has finally been solved, and the culprit still exists

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