00:00Around 201 million years ago, Europe was transformed by extreme climate change and massive wildfires.
00:06The crisis came during the end-Triassic mass extinction.
00:10Volcanic activity released huge amounts of carbon dioxide.
00:13Global temperatures may have risen by 5 to 10 degrees Celsius.
00:17As forests collapsed, ferns rapidly spread across the damaged landscape.
00:22Researchers studied four ancient drill cores to trace the fires.
00:25One core from the United Kingdom reached 640 meters underground.
00:30They analyzed fossil charcoal, wildfire compounds, pollen, and spores.
00:35In total, 15,000 fossil measurements were examined.
00:38The fossils revealed a mysterious dark zone linked to intense fires.
00:43That period also matched a dramatic surge in fern abundance.
00:47Ferns could quickly regrow after fires from underground root systems.
00:50But once dry, their thick mats became highly combustible fuel.
00:54This created a cycle of fire, fern growth, and more fire.
00:58The fern-dominated period lasted at least 40,000 years.
01:02Researchers say it may have continued for up to 300,000 years.
01:06The findings show how climate, vegetation, and fire can reinforce each other.
01:11Disclosure.
01:12This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
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