time travel, parallel universes, and other useful illusions
When I last wrote about Lake Vostok, Russian scientists had retrieved new water samples from the subglacial lake in Antarctica. This lake, if you remember, has existed deep beneath the Antarctic ice, isolated for about 20 million years. And, at the very least, the lake’s water has been free of any contamination or disturbance from …
From August 1946 to February 1947, the United States Navy conducted a military exercise in Antarctica known as Operation Highjump. Officially, it was for personnel training and the investigation of potential areas for future bases. Officially. Of course, the official story is never quite as interesting as the…unofficial one.
Last year, Russian scientists successfully drilled into Lake Vostok in Antarctica, a subglacial lake that has been sealed away for 20 million years. Given that it’s been hidden for so long, separated from the rest of the world, many believe it may hold unique microbial life. If it does, this will vastly increase the probability …
Continue reading “Russian Scientists Retrieve Sample From Lake Vostok”
Scientists researching the frozen Lake Vida in East Antarctica have discovered living microbes, sealed away beneath the ice for 2800 years. They retrieved the bacteria by drilling some 27 meters into the ice, where it flourished in salty, unfrozen water. [quote]“[The bacteria] probably survive by metabolising the abundant quantities of hydrogen and oxides of nitrogen …
Continue reading “Buried In Ice For 2800 Years, Life Finds A Way”
It was a close race against the harsh Antarctic winter, but Russian scientists have reportedly drilled into a lake that has been buried under ice for 20 million years. The lake, called Lake Vostok, remains liquid due to geothermal heat, which coincidentally is similar to the liquid oceans beneath the icy surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa. The …
Continue reading “Russian Scientists Reach Buried Antarctic Lake”
