Dr. Emily Broadwell is a scientist from the University of Bristol. She went on a deep journey to Antarctica.
She traveled to a place called Signy Island. This island is very far away. The trip took two weeks by boat.
The team crossed big waves that were 18 meters high. It was a difficult journey. On the island, the weather was very cold.
They stayed in an old building for three months. Dr. Broadwell looked for algae in the snow and ice.
Algae are tiny living things like plants. Many people thought all ice in Antarctica was the same. However, she found many different types of algae.
These tiny plants grow on the snow. Some are red and some are green. This was a big surprise.
These plants are important for the Earth. They take carbon dioxide from the air, but they also make the ice dark. Dark ice melts faster in the sun.
This happens because dark colors catch more heat. This is bad for the environment. Dr.
Broadwell took samples back to her lab in Bristol. She studied their DNA. She wants to know how they live in the cold.
Now, she works at a university in Denmark. Her work helps us understand climate change. She says these cold places are changing fast.
We must learn about them before they disappear.