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Volcanos, known for violent explosions and toxic fumes, may have been responsible for
saving some species during the ice ages. (Via U.S. Geological Survey)
A new study says volcanoes provided warm areas for things like mosses, lichens and bugs to
thrive while the rest of the world was covered in glaciers. (Via National Geographic)
The study specifically looked at volcanoes in Antarctica. One researcher says: "The closer
you get to volcanoes, the more species you find. This pattern supports our hypothesis
that species have been expanding their ranges and gradually moving out from volcanic areas
since the last ice age." (Via Nature World News)
The last ice age was 20,000 years ago, and since that time Antarctica has had at least
16 active volcanoes. (Via YouTube / Jiri VonDrak)
So how exactly did volcanos make the world a more livable place? The study's lead author
explains.
"Volcanic steam can melt large ice caves under the glaciers, and it can be tens of degrees
warmer in there than outside. Caves and warm steam fields would have been great places
for species to hang out during Ice Ages." (Via Sci-News.com)
So I guess you can now also think of volcanoes as an prehistoric radiator. The study was
published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.