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Fossilised pollen shows palm trees grew on Antarctica Palm trees grew on Antarctica during the Eocene period Climate scientists have found evidence in fossilised pollen that palm trees once grew on Antarctica. The 50 million year old samples, taken from seabed sediment, show the continent was once home to lush forest with summer temperatures reaching 21C.

"The biggest threat lies in the fact that Antarctica today is covered with ice, enough to potentially raise global sea-levels by 60 metres if the continent once again reaches Eocene temperatures, which would have devastating effects all over the world."

Detailed analysis of this period was previously impossible as Eocene sediments were destroyed by glaciation or covered by thousands of metres of ice. The sediments collected contained tiny fossils and chemicals that gave an insight on the climate at the time they were deposited.

Forget Mother Nature: This is a world of our making

Humans have transformed Earth beyond recovery – but rather than look back in despair we should look ahead to what we can achieve