Posted on 08/21/2014 3:30:31 AM PDT by Olog-hai
An entire ecosystem has been discovered under the Antarctic, raising hopes that life could exist in extreme environments, such as other planets in the solar system.
Researchers have discovered that tiny life-forms are thriving in a lake under half a mile of pack ice, even though the habitat has not seen sunlight or fresh air for a million years.
The discovery has led to excitement among the scientific community who had previously theorized that microorganisms may be able to survive by evolving novel ways to generate energy.
And it raises the possibility that similar life could exist on Mars or other icy planets or moons.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Europa.
Liquid water oceans under the ice. Heat generated by gravitational tidal action causing volcanic vents to spew heat and nutrients. The color on the surface of the ice could indicate algae or just sulpher deposits from Io.
We have to ignore the injunction and attempt a landing on Europa.
Enceladus comes to mind.
One thing not mentioned in the article is even though this may demonstrate that life CAN exist under ice sheets, I believe they failed to mention that the icy areas of our planet haven’t ALWAYS been icy. That’s not likely the case in the rest of our Solar System
Well, they have now!
BTW, how could they possibly know this?
Also, may I remind you fellows that this is still August, and that means it is the season for a bit of journalistic leg-pulling. Remember the report on that Antarctic animal that used a 'heat-pad' on its forehead to burrow through the ice?
Just sayin'
The Thing!
Thanks KoRn Kenny Bunk. Earlier on FR: Cold, Dark and Alive! Life Discovered in Buried Antarctic Lake.
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