Lake Vostok reached!

[tommo]

'Lost World' reached: 20 million yr old Antarctic lake 'drilled' — RT 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? See link for more 'Lost World' reached: 20 million yr old Antarctic lake 'drilled' — RT

[nina]

Still a few meters to go...lol...someone couldn't wait to spill the beans. I'm interested to see what they discover down there.

[IAmCoder]

The avatar, of course.

[Xei]

I'm interested to see what they discover down there. Whatever it is, I somewhat doubt it will be 'extraterrestrial life'... Could be very interesting, though.

[Burke]

I wouldn't be surprised if there are remains of life forms, in fact there likely are, but I doubt there will be any living organisms. Actually, there may be some algae or other plant species but nothing groundbreaking such as extremophiles. EDIT: I'm stupid, plants need light xD

[cmind]

They'll find a stargate.

[tommo]

Still a few meters to go...lol...someone couldn't wait to spill the beans. I'm interested to see what they discover down there. Hehe yeah.... I realised that just after I posted it. I hadn't actually read the article yet, just the post title on reddit lol Apparently they may not sample any water until late 2012 as well.... I wouldn't be surprised if there are remains of life forms, in fact there likely are, but I doubt there will be any living organisms. Actually, there may be some algae or other plant species but nothing groundbreaking such as extremophiles. EDIT: I'm stupid, plants need light xD I don't think plants necessarily need light. They need sugars, though. Unless the definition of plant includes photosynthesising, then yeah, lol. If there is anything down there, it would no doubt be very unevolved, due to how slow-moving creatures in extremely cold areas are.

[Original Poster]

I'll take a look as soon as I cross through that area on my way up north. I'm betting either Hell or the premise of Alien vs Predator the shit film.

[tommo]

Lol Omnis, just remember Antarctica is south.

[Original Poster]

Lol Omnis, just remember Antarctica is south. Didn't we go through this already? I'm not journeying TO Antartica.

[tommo]

Lol, damn I missed the un-moderated posts.... Yeah Omnis, I just find it hard to believe that you're currently in Antarctica. Unless you've hacked in to some super government Wi-Fi network

[Original Poster]

Pfft you of feeble mind who believes man can be in but one location at a time.

[cmind]

Pfft you of feeble mind who believes man can be in but one location at a time. Actually I think the mind that suffers from schizophrenia is the feeble one.

[Original Poster]

Oh contraire, tis the presumptuous who fails at proper comprehension, and staggers sadly into the abyss of stagnation. But mere prey are those who cannot grasp at what they do not know, and must instead shun the coming age in preference for their familiar cage. I pray for thee of doubtless declaration.

[jarrhead]

Whatever it is, I somewhat doubt it will be 'extraterrestrial life'... Could be very interesting, though. "imitate a quest to discover ET life." This means they're going to play as if it's discovering ET life... kinda like kids in a sandbox... except for astronomical study purposes probably. Sort of like practice for drilling into the oceans of moons in our solar system, which are covered with tons of ice like this?

[nina]

Hehe yeah.... I realised that just after I posted it. I hadn't actually read the article yet, just the post title on reddit lol No mas por favor.

[Xei]

"imitate a quest to discover ET life." This means they're going to play as if it's discovering ET life... kinda like kids in a sandbox... except for astronomical study purposes probably. Sort of like practice for drilling into the oceans of moons in our solar system, which are covered with tons of ice like this? That makes a lot more sense, I read it as 'initiate'.

[mcwillis]

Actually I think the mind that suffers from schizophrenia is the feeble one. I have a friend who lives with chronic schizophrenia. Had a long spell in psychiatric hospital too. He is the most loving human being I have ever met. Achieving that level of spiritual love required immense inner strength.

[cmind]

I have a friend who lives with chronic schizophrenia. Had a long spell in psychiatric hospital too. He is the most loving human being I have ever met. Achieving that level of spiritual love required immense inner strength. You're using the word "strength" in a different way. You refer to the will of the person, I refer to the state of the mind. You wouldn't say a building on the verge of collapse that's being held up by one twisted piece of rebar is a "strong" building, would you?

[tommo]

No mas por favor. LOL, I had to google that. I got "No, more please". But I assume it is "No more, please". I'm very sorry Nina.... "imitate a quest to discover ET life." This means they're going to play as if it's discovering ET life... kinda like kids in a sandbox... except for astronomical study purposes probably. Sort of like practice for drilling into the oceans of moons in our solar system, which are covered with tons of ice like this? I think there was also a lot of emphasis on making sure they don't contaminate the lake at all. I was reading a bit more and apparently they had to prove to some committee (that's such a weird word) that the freon and kerosene they were using to melt the ice wasn't going to contaminate it. Apparently they're betting on the water being "pushed" up and freezing the chemicals on to the wall of the holes, or something like that. I hope it works, lol.

[Original Poster]

You're using the word "strength" in a different way. You refer to the will of the person, I refer to the state of the mind. You wouldn't say a building on the verge of collapse that's being held up by one twisted piece of rebar is a "strong" building, would you? Or perhaps being held back by a single piece of rebar, depending on how you look at things.

[jarrhead]

I have a friend who lives with chronic schizophrenia. Had a long spell in psychiatric hospital too. He is the most loving human being I have ever met. Achieving that level of spiritual love required immense inner strength. This. I know a girl I've known for many years with sporadic schizophrenic bouts. Don't think I've ever met a better girl.

[Abra]

My Europa-filled dreams are yearning for life to be found there.

[cmind]

Or perhaps being held back by a single piece of rebar, depending on how you look at things. If you feel like you're being held back from the full beauty of total psychosis or whatever, then by all means drop some more acid.

[Original Poster]

Thank you but for now my experiments with drugs are complete. Perhaps its time you began yours, though.