Lake Vostok surface reached

[sygeek]

'Lost World' reached: 20 million yr old Antarctic lake 'drilled'

Image from lostlab.ru

After 30 years spent drilling through a four-kilometer-thick ice crust, researchers have finally broken through to a unique subglacial lake. Scientists are set to reveal its 20-million-year-old secrets, and imitate a quest to discover ET life.

The Vostok project breathes an air of mystery and operates at the frontiers of human knowledge. The lake is one of the major discoveries in modern geography; drilling operations at such depths are unprecedented; never before has a geological project required such subtle technologies.

The main inspiration for the project – the Russian scientist who posited the lake’s existence – died just six months before the moment of contact with the lake’s surface. Now, the whole world is looking to Lake Vostok for crucial data which might help to predict climate change.

“Yesterday [on Sunday] our scientists at the Vostok polar station in the Antarctic completed drilling at depths of 3,768 meters and reached the surface of the subglacial lake,” RIA Novosti reported, quoting an unnamed Russian scientist.

Meanwhile, Itar-Tass news agency says the scientists still have a few meters to go.

Lake Vostok is a unique closed ecosystem hidden under some four kilometers of ice. Its water has been isolated from the atmosphere – and therefore from any contact with the outside world – since before man existed. The key question for scientists is, could the lake harbour life?

Image from earth.columbia.edu

If some primitive bacteria or even more complex life-forms are found to have survived the isolation, it could offer an earth-shattering insight into our planet’s past.

But if the lake proves to be a closed system devoid of any life, it would offer scientists the chance to test their theories on how to search for extra-terrestrial life on future space trips. Conditions in the lake are often described as “alien," as they resemble lakes on Jupiter's moon Europa.

When drilling work began around Vostok Station in the Antarctic in the 1970s, scientists had no idea a mysterious lake lay under the massive ice sheet. It was only in 1996 that Russian specialists, supported by their British counterparts, discovered with sonar and satellite imaging what later proved to be one of the world’s largest freshwater reservoirs. In size, Lake Vostok matches Lake Ontario.

Panoramic photo of Vostok Station showing the layout of the camp. Credit: Todd Sowers LDEO, Columbia University, Palisades, New York (Image from physorg.com)

However in 1998, drilling had to be halted just 130 meters from the lake’s surface after the alarm was raised over concerns that the ancient and unblemished waters risked being polluted if special precautions were not taken.

The relevant technology was developed in 2003 in St. Petersburg. Work resumed in 2005 after tests.

After the 24-hour-a-day drilling work is over, scientists are to take samples of lake water which penetrates through the crack. Specialists at the Russian Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute predict they will find “the only giant super-clean water system on the planet.” The pristine water will be “twice cleaner than double-distilled water,” they believe.

The Vostok Antarctic research station is no Bali resort. Its temperatures average around –66 degrees Centigrade. Earth’s the lowest ever temperature was recorded there on July 21, 1983, when it hit –89.2 C.

For those interested in seeing where this is actually located..

[Neuron]

It's really amazing that there are geological wonders on earth yet to be uncovered.Thanks for sharing.

[Faun]

I hope we don't get a surprise here and ready to deal with anything found there.

[DeSmOnD dAvId]

This reminds me of "The Thing" XD

[noob]

wow..post more info on it.

[sujoyp]

I hope we get at least some life form under it

[DeSmOnD dAvId]

...or some alien shapeshifting virus.

[sygeek]

The project will continue by late 2012.

...or some alien shapeshifting virus.

Wait a second..it all makes sense now, they were right!

[sam]

Alien Vs Predators: Realty

20yrs of drilling. cool.

[DeSmOnD dAvId]

I thinking more about John Carpenter's "The Thing". But AvP is possibility too.

[himadri_sm]

2012 : the end of the world will start from this place

[furious_gamer]

^^ Positive thought...

[himadri_sm]

^^ Positive thought...

I bet roland emmerich is already working on a movie based on this..

[thetechfreak]

Oh well. Hope atleast some form of life is discovered. Alien info would also be good

[kg11sgbg]

I thinking more about John Carpenter's "The Thing". But AvP is possibility too.

Saw,both the Films,and both were fantastic.
Though the Film --> "The Thing" had "Kurt Russell" as the main protagonist and a story by "John Carpenter" which puts it ahead than AvP.My personal opinion...and choice...

The Russians are truly devoted to such an expedition,and exploration on the unknown myriads of Lake Vostok,which will be revealed to us the mankind,IF THEY WANT TO REVEAL.
From various Historical facts,it has been ascertained that the Russians are much more secret-prone("Classified" in exploration/expedition data,facts & information) than the Americans.

[sygeek]

No science fiction please (particularly movies). Correlation of aliens (or other more plausible topics) with this topic is fine.

[v.Na5h]

2012 : the end of the world will start from this place

[sygeek]

Maybe it contains the same organism that wiped out the entire race of dinosaurs. Endless possibilities.

[nisargshah95]

A good share and a great find. I hope the scientists get some great results! +1

[Krow]

Maybe it contains the same organism that wiped out the entire race of dinosaurs. Endless possibilities.

My understanding is that the dinos were wiped out due to climatic changes induced by the meteor strike, not some alien organism. Could you elaborate on your point?

[sygeek]

My understanding is that the dinos were wiped out due to climatic changes induced by the meteor strike, not some alien organism. Could you elaborate on your point?

Yeah, you're right. I'm just trying to be creative with the doomsday thing, making some sense out of it.

[ico]

My understanding is that the dinos were wiped out due to climatic changes induced by the meteor strike, not some alien organism. Could you elaborate on your point?

[Krow]

OP said no sci-fi/jokes but he himself is going down that road.

[sygeek]

OP said no sci-fi/jokes but he himself is going down that road.

"Correlation of aliens (or other more plausible topics) with this topic is fine."

"Oh, I saw this thing from this movie where aliens invade the world with there big space ships and cool stuff" - Sci-fi

"Maybe it contains some alien organisms which may infect the entire human race" - Not sci-fi

[Anorion]

havent seen micro-organisms being the associated with cause of dinosaur extinction yet but it is as plausible as the other theories... also they became extinct over a long period of time, not like all dinosaurs are caught in a sudden cataclysmic event where the time stopped, like pompeii...

hey its a valid scenario from War of the Worlds, would be great if we find some radical life forms down there, hopefully they wont be too disruptive to the ecosystem, and end of 2012 is an ominous date

[vickybat]

We're getting too filmy here. I think that instead of alien lifeform, we have chance to find primitive lifeforms that existed before us. Any lifeform that should have started on earth cannot be deemed as alien. But it could be different as it must not have had a chance to evolve.

After reading that article, i think scientists have pretty much different goals to achieve rather than finding alien lifeform that too on earth. But yes, the lake is no wonder a mystery as it might hold valuable information about our planet's past and other things.

[DeSmOnD dAvId]

I wonder how the life-forms survive there without oxygen. Unless they survive via Chemosynthesis, in which case they need some substance like sulphur.

[Faun]

^^a virus can survive.

[abhidev]

maybe a magical trine that will bring life to the dead

[DeSmOnD dAvId]

^^a virus can survive.

Viruses need a living host to survive.