Around 700 million years ago, a catastrophic event plunged Earth into a global ice age known as 'Snowball Earth'.
Scientists believe enormous volcanic eruptions, occurring in a cold climate devoid of plant life, played a crucial role.
The resulting increased weathering of exposed rock dramatically reduced atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, triggering a runaway cooling effect.
This demonstrates how significant geological events, interacting with environmental factors, can drastically alter Earth's climate.
