Nature

Imagine living in one of the harshest climates ever experienced on Earth—a time when massive glaciers blanketed the land, temperatures plummeted far below modern averages, and survival seemed nearly impossible. Remarkably, recent archaeological discoveries show that ancient humans managed exactly this, surviving and even thriving on the Tibetan Plateau, often referred to as the "Roof of the World," during the last glacial maximum—the coldest period in Earth's recent geological history. This extraordinary finding challenges long-held beliefs that the Tibetan Plateau was uninhabitable during this brutal era, demonstrating the resilience, ingenuity, and adaptability of early human populations. So, how did these ancient people survive on the world's highest plateau during Earth’s harshest cl...

In an extraordinary discovery, scientists have uncovered bacteria, fungi, and viruses thriving 1.5 miles (2.5 km) beneath the ocean floor, in sediment estimated to be 100 million years old. This astonishing find, led by researchers from the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), reveals microorganisms that survive in an almost "zombie state," reproducing only once every 10,000 years. Their slow metabolism and ability to endure extreme conditions redefine our understanding of life's resilience. The "Zombie" Microorganisms What Are They? These microorganisms include: Bacteria, fungi, and viruses: Forms of life typically found in more hospitable environments. They survive in ancient sediment, buried beneath immense pressure and limited nutrients, conditions that would seem...