20/06/2025
In 2012, Russian scientists successfully revived a flowering plant called Silene stenophylla that last bloomed during the Ice Age—32,000 years ago in Siberian permafrost. Scientists uncovered ancient squirrel burrows containing frozen fruit tissue of Silene stenophylla, a plant native to the region. Although the mature seeds themselves were no longer viable, the team managed to regenerate the plant using preserved placental tissue found within the fruit, according to My Modern Met.
Against all odds, the plant not only grew—it thrived. It blossomed into a living flower genetically identical to its modern relatives but with subtle, fascinating differences in petal shape and flowering behavior. Even more remarkably, the ancient plant produced seeds that germinated more successfully than today’s counterparts, revealing a hidden resilience from an ancient world.
Even more remarkable, the revived plants produced seeds with a 100% germination rate, outperforming their modern relatives. This breakthrough not only shattered records for the oldest viable plant ever revived, but also opened new doors for studying ancient ecosystems and plant resilience, according to Sci News.
