For the first time, an international team of scientists has used magnetic data from ESA’s Swarm mission together with aeromagnetic datasets to help unveil the mysteries of the geology that underlies Antarctica’s kilometres-thick ice sheets. Their findings compare well with the geology of formerly adjacent continents, namely Australia, India and South Africa, which were once part of the ancient Gondwana supercontinent. Using the new magnetic data, the animation illustrates this movement of the tectonic plates over millions of years.

Read full story: Antarctica’s magnetic link to ancient neighbours