Antarctic 'lost world' to be explored

[dipsydoodle]

Final checks are under way in Antarctica before the launch of a daring attempt to investigate an ancient lake beneath the ice-sheet.

Lake Ellsworth lies below ice that is at least two miles (3.2km) thick.

Its pitch-black waters have remained isolated and unseen for up to half a million years.

This will be the first attempt to extract uncontaminated samples of water and sediment from a body of water so far below the surface.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20623774

[geckosfeet]

1. Oh good. We are going to contaiminate one of the few isolated environments on the planet.

Well - maybe there is a cure for cancer lurking about down there.

[sharp_stick]

2. Yaaay for scientific illiteracy! n/t

[geckosfeet]

8. Yaaay for sense of humor.

[SCVDem]

3. Get it now

After the ice melts everything will be contaminated.

[Javaman]

4. What could possibly go wrong? nt

[dipsydoodle]

6. Not a lot

The Russians had already reached Vostok some weeks back. It contained pure water only - no bacteria or other signs of life ever having been there.

[Javaman]

12. and the drilling equipment was completely clean of any and all contaminates?

seriously doubtful.

A side note:
NASA clean rooms breed hardy bacteria
http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070903/full/news070903-5.html

The ultra-clean facilities used to assemble NASA's spacecraft are inhabited by some hardy bacteria, which could be hitchhiking their way to space.

Samples from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Kennedy Space Center and Johnson Space Center, show the variety of bacteria that make it into the spaceship assembly areas despite the clean rooms used to build the craft in. The team found an eclectic selection of bacteria, including some that thrive in harsh environments with no food, at high temperatures or pH, or in high levels of chlorine.

more at link...

[dipsydoodle]

13. If the Russian equipment had been contaminated

then surely they would have found contaminants in the water. They didn't.

[Javaman]

14. Not yet. nt

or should that be not nyet.

[tclambert]

5. Premium Lake Ellsworth bottled water for sale in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .

[alfredo]

7. So if things go as planned we should be seeing some of the findings. Cool

[Cobalt-60]

9. Don't disturb the Old Ones!

A read through the reports of the Miskatonic Expedition is in order!

[trailmonkee]

10. by the time they are finished drilling...

They will be surrounded by enormous penguins.

[xocet]

11. Poor Danforth!

"Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!"