The discovery seems straight out of a science fiction novel: in the Arctic's eternal ice, scientists unearthed a 130,000-year-old woolly mammoth calf with perfectly preserved organs and soft tissues . It is the best-preserved mammoth ever found, and it could completely transform our understanding of evolution and ancient genetics.

What makes this discovery so special?

Unlike other fossils, this mammoth preserves internal organs, muscles, skin, and even dried blood. It was found in the Siberian permafrost, a layer of frozen soil that acted as a time capsule for millennia. Thanks to this, its DNA is intact to a level that scientists considered almost impossible.

What are scientists trying to do?

1. Detailed genetic study
They want to fully map the mammoth's DNA to compare it with its closest living descendants: Asian elephants. This could allow them to:

• Understanding how they adapted to the extreme cold.

• Identify genes related to longevity, immune resistance, or diseases.

2. "De-extinction" projects
Some institutions, such as the company Colossal Biosciences, are already working on using genetic engineering to recreate mammoth-elephant hybrids that could repopulate frozen ecosystems and combat climate change.

3. Tissue study for medicine
The preserved organs could help to study mechanisms of aging, cellular adaptation, and protection against extreme conditions.

Is it ethical to resurrect extinct species?

Science is advancing rapidly, but not without debate. Some voices warn of the ethical, environmental, and technological risks of bringing extinct species back. Others see it as an opportunity to restore nature's lost balance.

For now, this baby mammoth gives us a window into a vanished world… and perhaps, a path to better understand the future.