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Complex Life Found Under 600 Feet of Antarctic Ice

Posted by timothy on from the planted-by-von-braun-in-1967 dept.

Chroniton writes "NASA ice scientists have found a shrimp-like creature and a possible jellyfish 'frolicking' beneath 600 feet of solid Antarctic ice, where only microbes were expected to live. The odds of finding two complex lifeforms after drilling only an 8-inch-wide hole suggests there may be much more. And if such life is possible beneath Earth's oceans, why not elsewhere, like Europa?"

6 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. Oceans too by sopssa · · Score: 3, Insightful

    60% of the Earth is filled with oceans. In some parts they go down as much as Mount Everest goes up. That means over half of our planet is still not searched. Some of the found fishes in there are really weird as well and look like aliens.

    Imagine the land amount all those oceans would free if tried up.

    1. Re:Oceans too by John+Hasler · · Score: 5, Insightful

      > Imagine the land amount all those oceans would free if dried up.

      Imagine all the land that would become uninhabitable if the oceans dried up.

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      Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
    2. Re:Oceans too by Arimus · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "Some of the found fishes in there are really weird as well and look like aliens."

      How many aliens have you seen to confirm that the fish look like them?

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  2. Re:only problem by MozeeToby · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you're going to point out that Europa is different from Antartica at least take the time to point out how it's different. Namely, the complex life in Antarctica evolved in different, more comfortable conditions. Complex life under hundreds of feet of ice on Earth says nothing about whether or not it's possible for life to begin or become complex in those conditions. It just says that once started, life is very adaptable.

  3. Europa by schnitzi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    >And if such life is possible beneath Earth's oceans, why not elsewhere, like Europa?

    Because saying life can survive somewhere is different than saying it can evolve somewhere.

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    I object to that article, and to the next reply.
  4. Re:Plato on the moon? by amirulbahr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think you are confusing skills acquired with biological adaptations.