Sunday, February 06, 2011

Scientists To Pierce Frozen Lake

Russian Scientists are set to pierce a lake in Antarctica that has been sealed for over fifteen million years. RedOrbit reports:
Alexei Turkeyev, head of the Russian polar Vostok Station, told Reuters by satellite phone that scientists have “only a bit left to go.” His team has been drilling for weeks in a race to reach the lake -- buried 12,000 feet beneath the polar ice cap -- before the end of the brief Antarctic summer.

With the quickly returning onset of winter, scientists will be forced to leave on the last flight out on February 6. “It's minus 40 (Fahrenheit) outside,” said Turkeyev. “But whatever, we're working. We're feeling good. There's only 5 meters left until we get to the lake so it'll all be very soon.”

Scientists are hoping the lake will reveal new forms of life and show how life evolved may have evolved [sic] in the times before the ice age. The lake could also offer scientists a glimpse of what conditions exist for life in similar extremes on Mars and Jupiter’s moon Europa.
Hat tip to Glenn Reynolds of Instpundit, who writes:“Admit it, it sounds just like a thousand horror-movie setups.”

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1 comment:

  1. If they're not careful, they'll unleash the shoggoths from Lovecraft's "At The Mountains of Madness." Heck, they're already right next to the dreaded Plateau of Leng.

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