Drilling at Lake Vostok

[CatInASuit]

That's Lake Vostok, Antarctica, which is buried beneath several thousand metres of ice and is effectively cut off from the world as its own unique ecosystem. The water at the base is expected to be kept above freezing by geothermal heat and its possible that new species of organisms could be found in those depths.

It would be a remarkable find and open up all sorts of possibilities if life was found there as the environment is likely to be similar to that found on some of Jupiter's moons.

I can understand some people saying that it should have been left alone in its pristine state and that by drilling like this we are contaminating the area. On the other hand, mankind has been doing that for centuries and its a great leap forward in our understanding. It's not as if they are trying to melt the ice cap.

More here

I just hope they avoid the shoggoth.

[Rube E. Tewesday]

It does sound like the beginning of a cable TV horror movie, doesn't it?

Seriously, though, I am in favour of these kinds of explorations. There's a lot of speculating that goes on about life elsewhere in the Galaxy when we're a long way from having a truly good understanding of life on Earth.

[Zuul]

This is really, really cool and also really, really scary, in the same way old archeological and paleontological digs can be. Every time you disturb things, you run the risk of destroying what you're looking for and we don't have much experience at keeping ecosystems completely isolated.

Still...cool.

[Oliveloaf]

I bet there's a Starbucks down there.

[Elendil's Heir]

Hell, two of 'em!

[CatInASuit]

Still...cool.

Given its the end of summer down there, its very cool. About -40C or so.

I bet there's a Starbucks down there.

Actually, there is supposed to be Nazi Gold down there. They will probably find a lab with Hitler's brain in a jar.

[What Exit?]

I thought the entire base was run by Hitler clones? No?

[Rube E. Tewesday]

Apparently they're runnning out of time as the Antarctic winter sets in. Wish them the best.

[Zuul]

I hope they release whatever dinosaurs or giant crocodilians are trapped down there soon, then.

[The Original An Gadaí]

They put a microphoen,, down there and when they recorded the sounds it was the.. screamss of the damned and demonsin HELL!!! Please RT! FOrward to 10 of your Christian freinds, this is TOO important to be left to OBAMA.

[OneCentStamp]

They put a microphoen,, down there and when they recorded the sounds it was the.. screamss of the damned and demonsin HELL!!! Please RT! FOrward to 10 of your Christian freinds, this is TOO important to be left to OBAMA.

This made me literally LOL. Nicely played.

[Rube E. Tewesday]

Yes, that was well done indeed.

[RabbitMage]

I want to tuck myself into a tiny submersible and go down there, personally. I worry about disturbing the environment but dude. Dude.

[Rube E. Tewesday]

I just read this morning that they made it through. Hope they find something good.

[Katriona]

I thought the entire base was run by Hitler clones? No?.

All your base are belong to...Hitler?

[OneCentStamp]

I just read this morning that they made it through. Hope they find something good.

I heard they only stayed down there for 20 minutes and aren't planning on going back.