Russian Scientists Use a “Digital Scalpel” to Study Why Mammoths Went Extinct
CT scanning of mammoth tusks from Yakutia reveals hidden details about their health, diet, and final years—without damaging the fossils.
Researchers at Novosibirsk State University are using computed tomography (CT) for the first time in Russia to study mammoth tusk fragments discovered in Yakutia. The technology acts as a “digital scalpel,” allowing scientists to peer inside ancient remains and create detailed 3D models of their internal structure without destroying the precious specimens.
By analyzing CT data, scientists hope to uncover the causes of the species’ extinction, as well as clues about the age, diet, and seasonal migrations of the prehistoric giants.
Tusks as a Chronicle of Mammoth Life
According to the research team, the method’s greatest value lies in its ability to detect hidden pathologies—such as fractures, diseases, and injuries—that are invisible to the naked eye.
Comparing these internal traumas across specimens could reveal not only how individual mammoths died, but also the environmental stresses that affected entire populations. In essence, each tusk becomes a biological diary, recording the animal’s health, challenges, and the changing conditions of the ancient Arctic ecosystem.
The “digital scalpel” project brings together paleontology and advanced imaging technology, opening a new chapter in how scientists reconstruct the final story of one of Earth’s most iconic extinct species.
