Hundreds of hidden earthquakes found at Antarctica’s Doomsday Glacier
Hundreds of previously overlooked seismic events have been detected beneath Antarctica, including 245 near the marine edge of the Thwaites Glacier. Many appear to be glacial earthquakes caused when huge icebergs break off, capsize, and collide with the glacier. The surge in activity coincided with a period when Thwaites was flowing faster toward the ocean, hinting that changing ocean conditions…
Scientists have discovered that Antarctica is home to unique microbes found nowhere else on Earth, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder focused on soil samples from Antarctica and compared them with samples from other cold, dry environments around the world.
They found that over 90% of the Arthrobacter strains in Antarctic soils were unique, with no similar strains found in other locations. This suggests that these microbes have a distinct biological history tied to the Antarctic environment, which is characterized by extreme cold and dryness. The researchers believe that this finding highlights the importance of protecting Antarctica's microbial life, which contributes to the overall biodiversity of the continent.
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