Russian scientists have drilled into Antarctica’s Lake Vostok:
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 BBC is sniffy about whether or not the achievement has actually occurred, but that may be sour grapes as the Russkies were in a bit of a race with a British team drilling in another area, Lake Ellsworth. The Brits have a history of placing second in races around Gaia’s bottom parts, but that’s another story.
The news that Team Vlad impaled Vostok is exciting, because no-one has a clue what’s down there. New life forms, new minerals, Elvis? Who knows what might be found under more than 2 miles of ice? Whatever it is had better be resistant to kerosene though, or it’ll be a short-lived hi and goodbye meeting.
Drilling into the lake isn’t an entirely risk-free notion:
The lake is known to have quite a bit of gas in it, like a carbonated soda, which could lead to a catastrophic geyser shooting up up out of the borehole when the drill finally hits water. If that happened, the lake could lose a quarter of its water and the weather above Antarctica could be altered, due to the sudden influx of water vapor into the air.
Assuming the pristine waters of Vostok don’t explode into the sky and can cope with a little pollution, scientists hope that what they find will give an insight into the sort of things that might be able to live on Europa, a Jupiter moon covered in ice. Which is exciting science, not the dreary climate sort made up by follicly-challenged chubby men counting tree rings.
Good luck to the Russian team as they delve the depths of Vostok, but, just in case things go wrong – I, for one, welcome our new ice-lizard overlords.
Ah Bayonet, a little levity to lighten the dark and ease our passage on this mortal coil (I don’t want my passage eased -Ed.). As Sherlock Holmes said “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.”
Therefore I have concluded your mystery mann is none other than our very own Prince of Wales (he who talks to trees, plants, and possibly bird shredders) and I claim my reward (I assume there is one). I hope it’s cash and not carbon credits or a Greenpeace t-shirt. Can you do a bank transfer or do you use plastic? (what he does in the privacy of his own home is his business – Ed.).
BTW did you know you’re named after a pretty little town in France? Luckily it’s Bayonne and not Condom in the Midi-Pyrenees region. You’d feel a right d|ck-head with a name like that.
My word, Michael – did I rattle your cage? You seem to be unable to spot satire when you see it. What’s my satirical response (not addressed to anyone but The Bayonet) to do with you?
The war in Vietnam was none of our making and none of our concern; the US got involved in a series of almost imperceptible steps that ultimately led to defeat at the hands of little men on bicycles. I don’t recall it being a popular war in the US, quite the opposite. I’m sure the British electorate wouldn’t have accepted any involvement – was the American electorate consulted over an expensive, bloody, and ultimately humiliating war in a country that few had heard of, and had to be pointed out to them on world maps?
Just how are my country’s current silly defence policies (they’re far sillier than you know) anything to do with the two world wars? As a student of military history from ancient Rome to the present, I know perfectly well why the US was “late” in both wars. As you mentioned “silly defence policies”, what kind of defence policy sees a country’s navy in port and defenceless because it’s the weekend ?
If I make a satirical reference, I do so from knowledge, not ignorance. Satire has to be based on truth, but ignores it. And no, we don’t expect Obama (does he speak for the American people ?) will defend British interests in the Faulklands. We didn’t get any support when Argentina invaded, quite the opposite, and that involved British territory and British civilians, not some unheard of faraway jungle. Obama hates his father’s Kenyan Colonial masters? He gives me the impression of hating everyone, US citizens included; at least he’s even-handed in that.
As to our involvement in support of the US do the names Korea, Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan mean anything to you? By the way, whether or not we support military involvement, we honour our war dead in public in the cold light of day, and not otherwise. Look up Wootton Basset (now Royal Wootton Bassett, and with good reason). to see how we do it.
MostlyHarmless, you’re barking up the wrong tree with your twitchy friend, we recommend finding another mann to help with your quest.
To MostlyHarmless: I resent your comment about America’s Late entry into Europe’s 2 World Wars. My Grandfather fought in Europe in 1918, My parents met in the South Pacific because of Chamberlain’s failure. I went to Vietnam because of France’s failed colonial policies, but the Aussie’s were great fighters in S E Asia. You Brits were nowhere to be found in that conflict. Your silly country will lose the Faulklands because of Labour’s policies on Defense. Your country has an Aircraft Carrier with NO planes, Do you think Obama will defend Britain, no he hates his father’s Kenyan Colonial masters. When Argentina attacks, your country will wish Thatcher was still around to defend you interests.
WRT “follicly-challenged chubby men counting tree rings”, I’ve been scratching my head (a clue there?) wondering to whom you might be referring. So far, I’ve drawn a blank (saves on pencils), but I’ll leave no turn unstoned in my quest. A friend says I should stick with it, winking furiously as he spoke. Apart from referring him to a neuro-surgeon, how to proceed? Perhaps I should forget the pencil and use a penn – see the state I’m in?
signed
Worried of Woking
I don’t want to pour cold water on things, but that’s what they’ll find – cold water. Remember – you heard it here first.
BTW – I strongly
resembleresent your gratuitous remark about us Brits coming second in races to the Pole; we have always led the pack in world wars, and were never late at the gun, unlike a certain country I could mention.So, who’s got the franchise on Vostok Vodka…”Made with Million-Year-old Water”…and kerosene?
Jimmy Hoffa.
Doubtful. That water has to travel 2 miles up. It’ll freeze into frost the minute it hits the frigid Antarctic air, hence have no effect on the atmosphere.
Doctorets and PhDs…sheesh
The Lost World of Lake Vostok documentary is available at topdocumentaryfilms.com.
It is interesting.
I think finding Elvis, or even Hitler’s secret submarine lair is more likely.
Trenberth’s missing heat found?
So don’t drop Diet Coke and Mentos into the hole. Got it.