Scientist's Research Life under Antarctica's Glaciers

Scientist's are on their way to discovering the possibility of a secret world of animals and plants living in the warm caves under Antarctica's glaciers.

Researchers explained that active volcanoes in the area have hollowed out the caves with the steam. The caves can reach temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius (77 Fahrenheit) raising the possibility of an ecosystem of flora and fauna flourishing deep under the frozen surface.

This study is being led by the Australian National University who have been studying Mount Erebus which is an active volcano on Ross Island in Antarctica. Their studies showed extensive cave systems.

Ceridwen Fraser the Lead Researcher also reported that the samples of the soil in the cave were taken and tested and traces of DNA of algae, mosses and small animals were found.

Algae and mosses were the ones identified but a lot of the DNA traces have been left identified making way for new species existing.

She further explained, “The results from this study give us a tantalizing glimpse of what might live beneath the ice in Antarctica -- there might even be new species of animals and plants.”

“The next step is to go and have a really good look and see if we can find communities living beneath the ice in Antarctica.”

The research paper has been published in the international journal Polar Biology. The paper read, “Our results highlight the importance of investigating these cave systems in greater detail -- despite the field challenges associated with such an endeavor - to confirm the presence of living macrobiota.”