Silence shrouds Antarctic dig (Still No Contact From Russian Scientists at Lake Vostok Site)

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | February 5, 2012

[PJ-Comix]

A TEAM of Russian scientists has gone quiet as they race against winter to uncover an ancient Antarctic lake.

The group from Russia's Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) have been drilling for weeks in an effort to reach isolated Lake Vostok, a vast, dark body of water hidden 4000m below the surface of the continent. Lake Vostok has not been exposed to air in more than 20 million years.

The team's last contact with colleagues in the outside world was six days ago, and scientists from around the globe are unsure of the fate of the mission - and the scientists themselves - as Antarctica's deadly winter draws near.

[PJ-Comix]

"They need to be out by the sixth of February," Dr Pearce said, when winter sets in and temperatures drop another 40 degrees Centigrade. Vostok Station boasts the lowest recorded temperature on Earth, -89.4C.

Uh-oh. Only ONE DAY left to split.

[PJ-Comix]

FYI

[GQuagmire]

Hmmm. Where have I heard this story before?

[Renegade]

Boom-Boom! Boom -Boom! Boom -Boom! I can’t help but thinking of that sound from the remake of “ The Thing”

[Atlas Sneezed]

“They need to be out by the sixth of February,” Dr Pearce said, when winter sets in and temperatures drop another 40 degrees Centigrade.

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That’s not news reporting, its Hollywood script-writing.

I doubt the temp drops by 40C on a particular day every year.

[PJ-Comix]

Hmmm. Where have I heard this story before?

From my previous post but since no contact from the Russian scientists, they only have ONE DAY left to leave the scene.

[muawiyah]

Eventually someone is going to drill a hole through something and tap into the innards of an intergalactic space cruiser.

[PJ-Comix]

Maybe he means when that area BEGINS its 40C plunge. Even though it is officially summer in the Antarctic, the sun has been getting lower on the horizon since Dec. 21. Right now it is getting colder and COLDER.

[DonaldC]

Or unleash some long dormant disease.

[MadJack]

Any of the group from Myskatonic University?

[MadJack]

Any of the group from Myskatonic University?

[jjotto]

http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/89606.html

[PJ-Comix]

I'm thinking that the most realistic theory so far presented is that they drilled through to the under the ice lake and the water pressure sent a tower of water up that covered the scientists and froze them like human Popsicles.

It could be that we won't find out for sure until AFTER the Antarctic winter late this year.

[sodpoodle]

4000 meters is about 25 miles - that’s DEEP!!!!

[sodpoodle]

Oooooooooooops

4000 meters is 2.5 miles - missed the decimal point;(

still deep;)

[The Working Man]

Good one!

I hope they have real star stones instead of the fakes.

[Notforprophet]

4000 meters is 4 kilometers. Very deep, but nothing close to 25 miles.

[GQuagmire]

Now I remember...

[mardi59]

My first thought too. This terrifies me. I can barely stand 10 below, but being frozen to death is horrifying.

I pray they left and that all are okay. Lord, please watch over them.

[Notforprophet]

Aaaaand I see now you realized that already! Darn slow intertubes...