Posting #1
Topic: Science
Title of article: Race is on to find life under Antarctic ice sheet
Author: Alissa de Carbonnel
Publication Name: Reuters
Date of Publication: 02/13/12
1225
Main Idea:
Russia is racing to be the first to find ancient or new life hiding under the Antarctic ice sheet. Below this ice sheet is a freshwater lake with an extremely cold climate, which has never met the sun. Scientists are hoping that reaching this lake will provide new information on the origins of evolution. Britain and United States are excited to join the Russians, knowing that any new findings will also give a glance of what life could be like on distant planets, such as Mars and Jupiter's many moons. After 20 years of drilling, Russians have succeeded in piercing 3,769 meters of ice that belong to Lake Vostok, one of the largest and most isolated of over 350 subglacial lakes. Although the Russians have succeeded in making a small break through, their lack of technology is giving an open door to the US and Britain, both having highly advanced instruments to bring to the research. Russians have been held back in making a speedy research by their choice of technology, environmentalists argue the drilling fluid Russians use could affect the pristine lake for the worst. Here is where the British and Americans come in, they have a drill that uses hot glacier water which is UV radiated and deemed more environmentally friendly. With these new developments in technology and research, all are hoping to find something life changing under the depths of Antarctica.
Conclusion:
Although these experiments are being done on Earth, it has several advantages when it comes to our advancement in space technology. The study of subglacial lakes offer insight into life beyond earth, in terms of technology, we are slowly improving our drilling (what we will have to use in other planets) and an understanding on how life evolves and what can or cannot be habitable for us in the future. Space is the next step after the studying of subglacial lakes has been accomplished.
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ReplyDeleteI honestly had no idea that there was still places that were unexplored that were above the sea. The U.S. as usual wants to get in on the action. Although the Russian are 3,769 meters closer to getting to the water in Lake Vostok but because of their lack to technology the U.S. has a pretty good chance of getting to whatever is down there first.
ReplyDeleteRussians made a breakthrough, drilling through 3,769 m of ice in Antarctica in order to reach the subglacial Lake Vostok, but it is important not to lose the big picture while making progress. If studying the lake means possibly destroying the lake and the habitats around it, it will be best to take a cautious approach. The UV radiated hot glacier water drill that the Americans and British use is an improvement, since people say are more environmentally friendly than the ones the Russians use, but it is still important to be cautious, because people don't know everything about the environment in Antarctica.
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