Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

brooklynite

(95,012 posts)
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 11:16 PM Sep 2017

Warm Antarctic caves harbour secret life: scientists

Source: Yahoo News

A secret world of animals and plants -- including unknown species -- may live in warm caves under Antarctica's glaciers, scientists said Friday.

The caves, hollowed out by steam from active volcanoes, are light and could reach temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit), researchers said, raising the possibility of a whole ecosystem of flora and fauna deep beneath the frozen surface.

A study led by the Australian National University around Mount Erebus, an active volcano on Ross Island in Antarctica, showed extensive cave systems.

Lead researcher Ceridwen Fraser said forensic analyses of soil samples from the caves had revealed intriguing traces of DNA from algae, mosses and small animals.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/warm-antarctic-caves-harbour-secret-life-scientists-020258806.html

22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Warm Antarctic caves harbour secret life: scientists (Original Post) brooklynite Sep 2017 OP
this has not worked well in movies...just sayin'😉 irisblue Sep 2017 #1
Gee. I think like that, too. I hope we are immune to those old types of The Wielding Truth Sep 2017 #2
Fringe S2ep19 What Lies Below. irisblue Sep 2017 #3
I'm waiting for the blob to thaw out in the Arctic. alfredo Sep 2017 #4
Already did, and it won the election. n/t woodsprite Sep 2017 #15
You win the internet! WhiteTara Sep 2017 #17
Is that where tRump came from? ProudLib72 Sep 2017 #5
Pellucidar exists after all n/t DFW Sep 2017 #6
Photo of a cave produced by steam from active volcanoes under the Antarctic ice. Solly Mack Sep 2017 #7
A wholly untouched ecosystem DFW Sep 2017 #8
Yeah. :( Solly Mack Sep 2017 #9
Wonder how far the Mt. Erebus' caves are from the point where Scott and sinkingfeeling Sep 2017 #10
Moss? With no light? NickB79 Sep 2017 #11
It seems to say there is light csziggy Sep 2017 #14
Yog Sothoth and the Old Ones jpak Sep 2017 #12
Shoggoths rule in Antartica AngryAmish Sep 2017 #18
Wait a minute: scientists are a secret life form being harbored in warm Antarctic caves? NT mahatmakanejeeves Sep 2017 #13
Yeah, that was the way I read it too! cagefreesoylentgreen Sep 2017 #21
Numerous authors have explored this idea... sdfernando Sep 2017 #16
Another potential source of Trump supporters... Rollo Sep 2017 #19
"Trog"... Rollo Sep 2017 #20
it is so wonderful that god got around to putting life in those caves 6000 years ago dembotoz Sep 2017 #22

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
5. Is that where tRump came from?
Thu Sep 7, 2017, 11:37 PM
Sep 2017

Are he and his cohort a group of algae, mosses, and small animals that crawled out of a cave beneath the ice? It now makes perfect sense why he wants climate change: he wants to free his trapped brethren.

Solly Mack

(90,803 posts)
7. Photo of a cave produced by steam from active volcanoes under the Antarctic ice.
Fri Sep 8, 2017, 02:59 AM
Sep 2017


Beautiful. Majestic. Magical, winter-wonderland.

DFW

(54,516 posts)
8. A wholly untouched ecosystem
Fri Sep 8, 2017, 04:39 AM
Sep 2017

If it's as difficult to access as the article indicates, we had better get busy right away if we are going ruin it during our lifetime. After all, this is not the sort of thing we want to leave to the next generation.

sinkingfeeling

(51,499 posts)
10. Wonder how far the Mt. Erebus' caves are from the point where Scott and
Fri Sep 8, 2017, 05:19 AM
Sep 2017

his 2 companions frozen to death. Scott knew so little about Antarctica when he attempted to go to South Pole.

NickB79

(19,301 posts)
11. Moss? With no light?
Fri Sep 8, 2017, 05:37 AM
Sep 2017

What the hell is it photosynthesizing?

Also, this is a potential example of how we might find life on Mars, in deep, warm cave systems.

csziggy

(34,140 posts)
14. It seems to say there is light
Fri Sep 8, 2017, 09:42 AM
Sep 2017

From the link in the OP:
"The caves, hollowed out by steam from active volcanoes, are light and could reach temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit), researchers said, raising the possibility of a whole ecosystem of flora and fauna deep beneath the frozen surface."

The picture with the article seems to show light diffused through the ice.

sdfernando

(4,960 posts)
16. Numerous authors have explored this idea...
Fri Sep 8, 2017, 03:03 PM
Sep 2017

One of my favorite authors, James Rollins, wrote his novel Subterranean set within these caves.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subterranean_(novel)

dembotoz

(16,866 posts)
22. it is so wonderful that god got around to putting life in those caves 6000 years ago
Sat Sep 9, 2017, 11:32 AM
Sep 2017



so a question would be....did the life start separately in the caves or were the caves contaminated at some point by life above and it evolved separately from there

and way above my education level to ponder
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Warm Antarctic caves harb...