European peatlands have been getting drier over the past few centuries due to a combination of climate change and human activities. By studying tiny organisms in peatlands, scientists found that 60% of sites were drier in the last 200 years than they have been in the past 600 years. This drying trend is linked to factors like less rainfall, warmer temperatures, and human disturbances. The drying of peatlands is reducing their ability to store carbon, which is bad for the environment. It's important to manage and restore these peatlands to prevent further drying and loss of carbon storage.