Back
47· Steady
Health & Science3h 5m ago
New research published in Nature Communications suggests the Atacama Desert's hyperarid core started forming more than 40 million years ago, 20 million years earlier than previously believed.
Atacama Desert, Chile
Who
Benedikt Ritter-Prinz, University of Cologne geologist
What
New research published in Nature Communications suggests the Atacama Desert's hyperarid core started forming more than 40 million years ago, 20 million years earlier than previously believed.
When
Mon, 15 Jun 2026 19:26:54 GMT · 3h 5m ago
Where
Atacama Desert, Chile ·
Why
The study indicates that the ultradry conditions were present more than 40 million years ago, suggesting the desert is older than thought, predating the formation of the Andes mountains.
The Frontline Impact
How this affects you
This discovery redefines the timeline of one of Earth's oldest and driest regions, challenging previous understandings of how and when extreme desert environments develop, and could inform future studies on adaptation of life forms to specific climate events.
Story chain
1 event in this threadNo related history yet - this is the origin event.
Verified Sources & Citations
Credibility ratings reflect the AI ingestion pipeline's assessment of source provenance.