Much of what we know about the evolution of life on Earth is based on fossils found in the Northern Hemisphere. That is why fossils from Antarctica are so valuable—they fill in gaps in our knowledge by giving us a rare glimpse of long-ago life in southern regions. From fossils, we now know that the ancient Antarctic environment was much more livable than today. It hosted an astonishing array of plants and animals and may even have acted as a refuge during periods of climate change. |