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Title: Antarctic Glacier Has Five-story Blood-red Waterfall of Primordial Ooze
Source:
good.is
URL Source: http://www.good.is/post/science-rul ... l-of-primodial-ooze/?GT1=48001
Published: Mar 8, 2010
Author: Patrick James
Post Date: 2010-03-08 16:44:36 by Ferret
Keywords: None
Views: 375
Comments: 19
Roughly 2 million years ago, the Taylor Glacier sealed beneath it a small body of water which contained an ancient community of microbes. Trapped below a thick layer of ice, they have remained there ever since, isolated inside a natural time capsule. Evolving independently of the rest of the living world, these microbes exist without heat, light, or oxygen, and are essentially the definition of "primordial ooze." The trapped lake has very high salinity and is rich in iron, which gives the waterfall its red color. A fissure in the glacier allows the subglacial lake to flow out, forming the falls without contaminating the ecosystem within. One takeaway here is that life possible in extreme conditions. That said, in the absence of ideal conditions, life can evolve without begetting plants or birds or cuddly mammals or sentient beings who write blogs on the internet; it just begets a glob of ooze. Read more: http://www.good.is/post/science-rules-antarctic-glacier-has-five-story-blood-red-waterfall-of-primodial-ooze/?GT1=48001#ixzz0hcjcwrNS
There is a five-story, blood-red waterfall pouring slowly from the Taylor Glacier in Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valley. Its back story, at Atlas Obscura, is simply remarkable:
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 7.
#1. To: Ferret (#0)
Another one is that global warming phenomena is breaking up the glaciers even to the depths of these subterranean cavities.
Yeah, to hear you and Al Gore tell it. But most people aren't buying what you and Al are selling.
Oh yeah ... equate me with Al Gore .... thanks a bunch. Still, what on Earth is opening cavities down thousands of feet in subterranean pockets within Antarctica? Do you think the phenomenal cause may be ascribed as: Tiny Tim's "Tip Toe through the Tulips" famous melody or Walt Disney's incredible Tinker Bell? There aren't a lot of other options, you know.
Natural forces at work. Nothing to do with Tiny Tim or Tinker Bell.
#8. To: James Deffenbach (#7)
Everything about life around us is "natural" including the ignition of a man made thermonuclear warhead. You have effectively said nothing.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestOne takeaway here is that life possible in extreme conditions.
#5. To: buckeroo (#1)
Another one is that global warming phenomena is breaking up the glaciers even to the depths of these subterranean cavities.
#6. To: James Deffenbach (#5)
#7. To: buckeroo (#6)
Replies to Comment # 7. Natural forces at work.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 7.