Students in Queens are pioneering a study into oceanic fossils from where no data has been recorded before. 

Over the last several semesters, a small research group at Queens College has been studying tiny shells dating back more than ten million years. 

Their professor brought back the samples from an expedition to Zealandia, a land mass near New Zealand.

Students are using the fossils to map out past climate and oceanographic changes from when carbon levels were similiar to today.

"We're studying the past to help better predict the future. The earth has 4.6 billion years of history and the future is very data poor," said Flanna Kimmick, a student in the research group. 

Once the study is complete, the group's professor hopes to share the student's findings at a national convention.