Scientists make surprising discoveries after drilling into Zealandia, the lost continent

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After studying the sunken continent for nine weeks, a scientific expedition of 32 scientists from 12 different countries has posted the results of their research. Researchers discovered that Zealandia broke off of Australia after having separated from Antarctica millions of years ago, and most importantly, significant new fossil discoveries were made, something that indicates that the sunken continent was not always deep beneath the ocean say scientists.

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While anything related to the lost world of Zealandia is exciting, expedition co-chief scientist Gerald Dickens of Rice University in the U.S., says how significant new fossil discoveries were made, something that indicates that the sunken continent was not always deep beneath the ocean.

“More than 8,000 specimens were studied, and several hundred fossil species were identified,” said Dickens. “The discovery of microscopic shells of organisms that lived in warm shallow seas, and of spores and pollen from land plants, reveal that the geography and climate of Zealandia were dramatically different in the past.”

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