Technology
Unique species discovered under 890 meters of ice in Antarctica
A group of scientists has accidentally discovered species living in -2°C temperatures under 890 meters of ice on the southeastern Weddell Sea in Antarctica.
According to the details, the researchers were conducting a survey in Antarctica when they accidentally discovered the strange creatures, shedding light on the existence of life beneath the ice shelves of the continent.
Experts from the British Antarctic Survey were drilling through the ice sheet to collect samples from the sea floor. They drilled almost 2,860 feet of ice and then another 1,549 feet of water before making the discovery.
Their camera hit a boulder and when they reviewed the camera's footage they found creatures attached to the boulder in the frigid seas under the Filchner-Ronne ice shelf.
The find was made by bio geographer, Huw Griffiths of the British Antarctic Survey, while he was working with his team of explorers.
"The area underneath these ice shelves is probably one of the least-known habitats on Earth," said Huw Griffiths.
Griffiths in a video said, “We recently found life living far beneath a giant floating ice shelf. What we found was surprising because we have never expected this kind of animals, animals that filter feed their food from the water column, to be found this far from a source of food or daylight,”
The previous theory was that life couldn't exist in such extremity like no food, freezing temperatures, and complete darkness.