Scientists have captured Earth's climate over the last 485 million years

A recent study reveals Earth's climate history over the last 485 million years, showing extreme temperature fluctuations and higher average temperatures than previously thought. The research strengthens the link between carbon dioxide levels and global temperatures, suggesting peak prehistoric temperatures reached 96.8°F (36°C).

Emily Judd, the lead author, notes, "In the same way as a massive asteroid hitting the Earth, what we’re doing now is unprecedented." Significant temperature shifts in the past led to mass extinctions, warning of the potential risks of current climate change.

The study involved over 150,000 fossil data points, utilizing advanced climate models for accuracy. It emphasizes that while life can adapt, the rapid changes caused by humans pose unprecedented challenges to ecosystems and human societies.