"Antarctic Octopus Unveils Genomic Evidence of Prehistoric Ice Loss and Rising Sea Levels"
A DNA study of Turquet's octopus, a small species that lives in the Southern Ocean, suggests that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is at risk of collapsing due to global warming. The study indicates that a temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels could be a tipping point for the ice sheet. Genetic analysis of octopuses from different locations around Antarctica revealed that populations that are currently separated by the ice sheet were mingling and swapping DNA about 120,000 years ago during a period of similar temperatures. If the West Antarctic ice sheet melts entirely, global sea levels could rise by up to 16 feet. The study highlights the urgency of taking action to mitigate climate change and prevent further ice sheet melting.