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Snowball Earth's –15°C Ocean: The Coldest Ever
Editor: LI Yuan | May 13, 2026
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About 700 million years ago, parts of the ocean hit –15°C (5°F)!
We analyzed iron isotopes in ancient rocks to measure ocean temperatures during "Snowball Earth" for the very first time.

Super-cold. Super-salty. Still liquid.
Can you imagine swimming in that? Earth has survived extremes before — and it's tougher than we think.

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Climate
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