Triumph! After two decades of drilling in most inhospitable place on Earth, Russian scientists return home with barrelful of water from ‘alien’ lake untouched for 20 million years

After more than two decades of drilling in Antarctica, Russian scientists have confirmed that they reached the surface of a gigantic freshwater lake hidden under miles of ice for some 20 million years.

The scientists returned 40 litres of water to the surface - water isolated from earthly life forms since before Man existed. 


The scientists will later remove the frozen sample for analysis in December when the next Antarctic summer comes. They have now left the site.


The scientists rebuffed claims that their drilling could have contaminated the lake, a body of water which has been in isolation for 20 million years.

The Russian researchers have insisted the bore would only slightly touch the lake's surface and that a surge in pressure will send the water rushing up the shaft where it will freeze, immediately sealing out the toxic chemicals.       Read More