Science

Ancient Ecosystem Revealed by Squirrel Feces

Updated 2026-06-09 21:55 UTC 1 source Neutral

Scientists have used the preserved DNA from ancient squirrel feces to reconstruct a complex ecosystem of extinct species, including woolly mammoths and bison, providing insights into prehistoric life.

Coverage timeline — 2 articles

New Scientist

The last-ditch plan to save coral reefs from utter destruction

Bleaching has devastated reefs around the world, raising fears of an irreversible shift. Yet new interventions have revealed that corals can be remarkably resilient if we can give them enough help to recover

2026-06-09 16:00 UTC

New Scientist

Frozen squirrel scat preserves ancient DNA from hundreds of species

A complex ecosystem of woolly mammoths, bison, horses and big cats has been elucidated by studying the faeces of small rodents that probably ate the bigger animals

2026-06-09 16:00 UTC