Scientists have uncovered the world’s oldest ice core, dating back 1.2 million years, retrieved from deep beneath Antarctica.

Extracted from Little Dome C, the 2.8-kilometre-long core offers an unparalleled glimpse into Earth’s climate history. Contained with the specimen are ancient air bubbles encased in the ice preserve atmospheric conditions and greenhouse gas levels from over a million years ago.

This remarkable find could help solve one of climate science’s greatest puzzles: the Mid-Pleistocene Transition. Around 900 000 to 1.2 million years ago, glacial cycles shifted from occurring every 41 000 years to every 100 000 years.

The reasons behind this change remain elusive, but the ice core may hold the answers.

Led by the “Beyond EPICA: Oldest Ice” project, researchers endured Antarctic temperatures of -35 degrees to retrieve the core. The ice is now being transported at -50 degrees to European laboratories for detailed analysis.

By extending climate records by an additional 400 000 years, this discovery sheds light on how past climate shifts may relate to modern challenges. Scientists believe these insights will enhance our understanding of Earth’s climate system, helping predict future changes.

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