Written by Phin Upham,
Antarctica is the center of many scientific activities. The region is one of the most difficult places in the world for organic life to inhabit, so that makes the few creatures who do call the Antarctic home quite fascinating. Here is a brief review of the most recent discoveries made by scientists.
Pine Glacier
The Pine Island Glacier is one of the best indicators for climate change. Scientists have studied the glacial formation for years, and have recently noticed rapid rises in sea level. Scientists expect a rise in sea level of 3.5 to 5 millimeters in the next twenty years, which could have considerable consequences for the world at large.
100 Year-Old Photos
Scientists setting up a supply depot on the New Zealand side of Antarctica made an intriguing discovery. 100-year old photographs from the Ross Sea Party, dated 1915, show snapshots of exploration life shortly after Amundsen discovered the South Pole.
The pictures are various shots of the teams and landmarks in the region. The supply depot where the pictures were recovered was built almost 100 years ago by Robert Falcon Scott.
Diamonds in Antarctica
Scientists claim that there is evidence of diamonds existing in the Antarctic mountains. Though researchers have made the discovery of mineral-rich rocks on the continent, the removal of these minerals is currently illegal. The diamonds are made of kimberlite, a material also found in hotter parts of the world like Africa or Australia. There is no telling how much kimberlite is on the continent, as scientists have only found three samples, but there may be more diamonds in the snow.
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