Thread: Is Drilling in Antarctica Dangerous?

NASA has been drilling in Antarctica under the ice. I also read that the Russians are also doing the same thing. Is there any risk of old viruses that could harm people?

This is a Youtube video where they discover what appears to be a new type of fish 600 feet under the ice.

Strange Creature Found 600 Feet Under Antarctica Ice - YouTube

Russia did drill right into a liquid lake supported by volcanic heat.

Lake Vostok - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Isolated for 15 - 25 million years, it could have any number of tiny critters that we have not been exposed to. I hope it does.

The actual "dangerous" aspect, though, is that they have pumped a lot of kerosene into the bore hole in order to prevent freezing.

old viruses that could harm people?

Viruses have to be evolved to people before they can harm them...so the simple answer is no.

Originally Posted by Lynx_Fox

old viruses that could harm people?

Viruses have to be evolved to people before they can harm them...so the simple answer is no.

By "people", do you mean animals, or Homo in particular? Because I am pretty sure viruses can evolve without the help of human hosts. And I am pretty sure that trans species viruses exist.

Because I am pretty sure viruses can evolve without the help of human hosts.

Evolve to use human cells takes a human. Trans species adaptations usually only happen in dense environments with many many opportunities. In the case of some deep ice dweling virus, there's isn't even a host remotely similar to humans, or even another mammal. Chance of a dangerous virus from under the ice are extremely remote.

Add to that the extreme salinity difference and temperature difference between a human body and any animal or liquid environment the virus would be dwelling in.