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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 3/7/2009
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Location: Inside Farlex computers
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 Russians Breach Antarctic LakeEarlier this week, a Russian team announced that it had successfully completed drilling through over two miles of ice and reached the surface of Lake Vostok, an Antarctic subglacial lake that has been untouched by humans for at least 14 million years. Scientists are hopeful that samples retrieved from the lake will reveal previously unknown life forms that have been isolated for millions of years and could offer new insights into Earth's history. There are concerns that the drilling methods used could lead to contamination of the pristine lake, but those involved with the project say precautions have been taken to minimize the risk. More...
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 2/13/2010
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One may hope they won't pollute? Oooops. They have polluted all of Siberia....my bad.
"Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless, and do no wrong". (Knight's Oath, Kingdom of Heaven)
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Location: iceland
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they did try to think of everthing and engineer the systtem to stop pollution getting in. But it would be tough for any scientists to guarantee that, and I would not trust Russian scientists not to come under political pressure to circumvent the protective processes if it got too slow!
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Location: iceland
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Antarctica really is unexplored, because it cannot even be imaged from above. The surface may be quite similar, but there is a whole continent underneath, with mountain ranges, rivers, and lakes. And species yet to be discovered. If we don't screw it up!    Quote:Antarctica without its ice sheet. This map does not consider that sea level would rise because of the melted ice, nor that the landmass would rise by several hundred meters over a few tens of thousands of years after the weight of the ice was no longer depressing the landmass. August 27, 2008
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 6/29/2009
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Location: United Kingdom
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This has been quite an undertaking to get this far; I wouldn't be too quick to presume Russian scientists are more likely to tolerate having any findings invalidated with sloppy procedure.
It'll interesting to see what, if anything, the lake produces. In terms of extremophiles, this will surely give us a better understanding of how life might exist and evolve on other planets.
Arguing with a creationist is like playing chess with a pigeon. It'll knock over the pieces, crap on the board, and fly back to it's flock to claim victory.
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