The northernmost land on earth. The last shores. Ultimate Thule. Not just a poetic expression or allusion, the lands of north Peary Land are truly the last bit of solid ground before the North Pole - the northernmost land on earth. Past the last mountain range on earth, the H.H. Benedicts (part of the Roosevelts), there is a small bit of flat land and then sea ice - and one island, surrounded by sea ice.

I led a team to that island to explore what is the northernmost life on earth, but also to see if humans lived there, once upon a time. The trip, sponsored and featured by National Geographic. We did find the northernmost terrestrial life (a desiccated but alive Arctic Poppy and a small, mucronate screw moss for the plants; a gregarious and lovable stoat for the animals). And we did find the northernmost archaeological evidence of humans, a tent ring that appears to be Thule culture - though that is unconfirmed due to a massive snowstorm that trapped us for over a week. More work needs to be done to confirm that find!

An audio story developed by NPR and team member Alejandra Borunda is a wonderful listen.

Location of the northernmost terrestrial life on the planet - and indeed, this is the northernmost land on the planet. A: Inuit Qeqertaat, or Kaffeklubben Island, which is the last land to the north. B: Location of permanent plots my team installed for future researchers to directly and empirically monitor species change.

The publication is in review.