University of Helsinki scientists discovered poor air quality markers in the form of volatile organic compounds (VOC) deep in Finland’s 25-year-old Outokumpu deep drill hole, revealing new concerns for carbon generation and the safety of nuclear waste storage. In the modern world, VOCs typically indicate poor air quality and industrial pollution due to human activities. However, some natural environments, like volcanoes and hydrothermal vents, also release potential toxins. Previous work at the Outokumpu deep drill hole uncovered groundwater that may be tens of millions of years old, displaying an environment shaped long before industrialization. Collecting from Outokumpu From 2004 to...