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See the original image at telegraph.co.uk —

Lost World Frozen 14 Million Years Ago Found in Antarctica

telegraph.co.uk — A lost world has been found in Antarctica, preserved just the way it was when it was frozen in time some 14 million years ago. The fossils of plants and animals high in the mountains is an extremely rare find in the continent, one that also gives a glimpse of a what could be there in a century or two as the planet warms.

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  • sisko2k5, on 08/04/2008, -3/+12The land of the lost?
    • elfprince13, on 08/05/2008, -0/+2I think they're going to make it into a theme park.
    • ngmcs8203, on 08/05/2008, -1/+1No... The Land Before Time... with cute little dinosaurs.
    • GregR, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1That means that global warming happened at some time in the past or global cooling. It must have been the dinosaurs that caused that and things are finally just getting back to the way it is supposed to be. :-)
    • hockeyplayer66, on 08/06/2008, -0/+2Holly! Look out the sleestaks are coming!
  • D1ckFace, on 08/05/2008, -3/+8This is where the montauk monster came from - expect more and bigger monsters to surface from the caverns of the Antarctic deep!
  • smitas, on 08/05/2008, -7/+2Yeah really its happening then, the ice is melting.
    • SmokedL, on 08/05/2008, -3/+5The way I read the article this Dry Valley is not a new phenomena, and it is very much below zero there.
      As for the antarctic ice it's predicted that it will grow initially as the increased precipitation that climate change is bringing offsets the melting temporarily.
      • atmenterprises, on 08/05/2008, -1/+2Yes. Global warming causes more ice now!

        Is this why it's called climate change now and not global warming?
      • SmokedL, on 08/05/2008, -1/+1@atmenterprises
        I realize that expecting deniers to actually read, or - god for forbid - attempt to understand, lengthy scientific articles is wishful thinking.

        Failing to read and understand the two sentences in my post though, that's just sad.
  • bosssmiley, on 08/05/2008, -1/+10Looks like the Pabodie Expedition may have turned up something interesting down there...
  • Harbinger1080, on 08/05/2008, -4/+36See, all this ice melting is good. I'm going to go for a nice long drive this evening with the AC blasting to do my part for science!
    • SmokedL, on 08/05/2008, -7/+3Science H Logic!
      For the millionth time; It's the rate of change that is the problem. Did you read the part of the article that said the cooling took 200,000 years? That's the kind of period of time the environment needs to be able to adapt fast enough to changes like this without dire consequences. Now we have a rise of .5 degrees in the last century and prognoses for far greater rises during this century. It will not be pretty.

    • billbugger, on 08/05/2008, -5/+1Make sure you keep your windows down too, and keep your RPMs above 3k always. :-p
    • monoa, on 08/05/2008, -1/+1There are so many dumb little ***** on threads like this. This comment getting Dugg just demonstrates a circle jerk of dumb....
  • jorichter, on 08/05/2008, -8/+11So global warming is a good thing?
    • ExRe, on 08/05/2008, -0/+3Climate change is just that. Some species can't survive with the climate change but some can thrive.

      For example, the climate change that cause the dinosaurs to go extinct is the reason mammals could grow larger and eventually control the planet. Without that climate change that killed off the dinosaurs mankind would not likely exist.
      • atmenterprises, on 08/05/2008, -2/+3But the History Channel told me that an asteroid strike killed the dinosaurs. So it's global warming now?
      • ExRe, on 08/05/2008, -1/+2The asteroid did NOT (directly) kill the dinosaurs.

        The asteroid DID cause a climate change that DID kill the dinosaurs.
    • Specializedone, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1It's certainly not the most horrible thing ever, like most media outlets and alarmists want people to think.
  • migshark, on 08/05/2008, -19/+8"The discovery of lake deposits with perfectly preserved fossils of mosses, diatoms and minute crustacea called ostracods is particularly exciting"

    Yay! Now we get a larger variety of prawns with our mammoth-clone steaks. (http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/09/28/ ...

    It's a bad day for Darwin, on account of the fossilised organisms being relatively identical to modern ones. You'd think nature would find something more constructive to do, with 14 million years.
    • Stemnin, on 08/05/2008, -1/+17There are plenty of living things that haven't changed in much longer than 14 million years.
    • pilot3033, on 08/05/2008, -3/+21nature tends to go by the rule, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
      • flamingduck, on 08/05/2008, -9/+2Then how do you explain a fish growing legs? I mean, there are plenty of happy fish swimming around that aren't broke....
      • zhallock, on 08/05/2008, -0/+6"there are plenty of happy fish swimming around that aren't broke"

        Looks like you are giving a perfect example of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"
      • ExRe, on 08/05/2008, -1/+5Any anomalies are completely normal in any species. That is what creates the possibility of evolution, natural selection is what causes species to pick the best anomalies for their climate.

        Flamingduck, you really need to learn how evolution works. Also, the way you say that it sounds like you think that something is controlling mutations and evolution, but there is not, it is random.
    • rharris, on 08/05/2008, -1/+20If an organism has adapted to its habitat and that habitat doesn't change, there is no natural selection pressure for that organism to evolve.

      It would be very unlikely to find anything here that completely contradicts the theory of evolution. More likely is that specimens found will provide additional confirmation of evolution rather than the other way around.
    • DeadBabySoup, on 08/05/2008, -1/+11sharks are a perfect example of when nature hits it dead-on early...Perfected though but the idea and shape hasn't changed We really should give them more credit, they'll probably outlive us.
  • cavie2002, on 08/05/2008, -7/+6LIVIN IN THE LAND OF THE LOST
  • TekeeTakShak, on 08/05/2008, -7/+14Obviously a Frozen Throne viral.

    /sarcasm
  • kwynn87, on 08/05/2008, -2/+60Did they find a stargate?
    • inajeep, on 08/05/2008, -0/+13Nope, we are all stuck here.
    • geneticlemon, on 08/05/2008, -0/+13Even better -- a Stargate™ to Åtlantis.

      I need to get out more. :
    • mhanley, on 08/05/2008, -0/+6Ancient outpost
    • jpierru, on 08/05/2008, -1/+0actually it was a giant robot that was looking for a rubicube.
    • antoniuk, on 08/05/2008, -0/+4Wormhole X-treme!
    • cheappop, on 08/05/2008, -3/+1I wanted them to find a mosquito....
  • tehgoatman, on 08/05/2008, -6/+3There are some pretty cool theories about antartica being what was referred to as atlantis.. some googling will bring up some very interesting reads.
    • antoniuk, on 08/05/2008, -1/+4No, bad misinformed interwebber. Atlantis was the Minoan Empire that was blasted by a volcanic eruption on Thera. Put the tinfoil hat back on before they get you
    • RobotBuddha, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1I wish I could be around in a few thousand years when people are debating where Hogworts was actually located.
  • MinibossMike, on 08/05/2008, -7/+1Pole shift - look it up people
    • CATSCEO2, on 08/05/2008, -0/+1Magnetic is more likely than geographical.
  • Baylow, on 08/05/2008, -2/+4Do you lose your mutant powers if you go there?
    • JesusTeaseUs, on 08/05/2008, -0/+1Nah, but you get to fight Sauron with Ka-zar! Weeee!
  • phyr3x, on 08/05/2008, -2/+2Jimmy Hoffa, is that you?
  • RegalGSX, on 08/05/2008, -9/+1No more Santa
    • snds, on 08/05/2008, -0/+4Wrong pole...
      • RegalGSX, on 08/05/2008, -2/+0I haven't heard that since the sausage-fest gangbang I attended a few years ago.
      • snds, on 08/05/2008, -0/+1Enjoy your AIDS Regal.
    • drewfitzgerald, on 08/05/2008, -0/+5You're an idiot. Every kid/adult knows Santa is at the NORTH pole, schmuck.
      • RegalGSX, on 08/05/2008, -3/+0Actually, every adult knows that Santa doesn't exist. Sorry to break it to you so late in the game. Please don't run up the stairs and let your parents know that I told you, though.
      • CATSCEO2, on 08/05/2008, -0/+1@regal

        MY CHILDHOOD, YOU BASTARD! D:
    • dilbert, on 08/05/2008, -0/+4Since when does Santa live on the South Pole?
      • Slade605, on 08/05/2008, -1/+1Since South Pole starting makin' such gangsta clothing?
    • RegalGSX, on 08/05/2008, -3/+1You're right. I got my poles flipped, sorry about the mistake. I apologize to all of my fellow diggers, you ***** *****.
      • snds, on 08/05/2008, -0/+1Being a douche doesn't make you cool. I figured you should be told since you are blind to the obvious.
      • RegalGSX, on 08/06/2008, -0/+0Who says I'm trying to be cool. You miss the point. Tonight, when you sleep, you will dream of large black men raping you.
  • Conwaysb0718, on 08/05/2008, -11/+49So wait, you mean to tell me that climate change is cyclical???
  • batmanz, on 08/05/2008, -7/+2What a chilling thought!
  • leerayIG88, on 08/05/2008, -11/+2Da-DA-da-DA-da-DA-da-DA-da-DA-da-DA-da-DAAAAAAAA
  • GoatMonkey2112, on 08/05/2008, -5/+3Where are the aliens?
  • roddack, on 08/05/2008, -1/+17In his house at R'lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming
  • MasterGrief, on 08/05/2008, -5/+1This was just on the front page, but in a different article that wasn't written nearly as interesting as this one.
  • sts9junkie, on 08/05/2008, -4/+0makes sense...melting down..Kind of like an inadvertent 'dig'...only melting layers
  • j0hnk377y, on 08/05/2008, -5/+4Global warming ROCKS!!
  • seanmx, on 08/05/2008, -1/+1Lost world was a terrible movie.
  • tman84, on 08/05/2008, -9/+4I like the not so subtle propaganda in this article. Global temperatures have not risen in 8 years. How can they make a statement "as the earth warms" and call it responsible journalism.
  • rharris, on 08/05/2008, -4/+7If the climate 14 million years ago cooled 8º, couldn't the climate change now just be a return to normal?
    • SmokedL, on 08/05/2008, -2/+7There is no normal.
      Temperature is constantly fluctuating. According to the best of our understanding temperature should still be dropping if we had not interfered.
      The problem with the current rise is the speed. It leaves no time for the environment to adapt. The cooling the article mentioned took 200,000 years for 8 degrees. Now the temperature has gone up .5degrees in one century and is set to rise far more the next hundred years.

      http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2005 ...
      http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/12/17/22147/ ...
      • bioviral, on 08/05/2008, -0/+2Very interesting!
      • atmenterprises, on 08/05/2008, -2/+2And the temperature has dropped another 0.5 degrees C since 1998. So we've netted out any increase seen in the 20th century.

        Folks, don't believe in this global warming/climate change hype. Especially if it blames anthropogenic sources. It's just a ploy to get more federal funding/increase taxes/control your lifestyle/implement fascist ideals.
      • SmokedL, on 08/05/2008, -1/+2@atmenterprises

        You're persistent, I'll give you that. Persistently rehashing debunked talking points is not really a valid argument though.
        Here's NASA debunking you: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/2005_ ...

        "2005 Warmest Year in Over a Century"
        ...
        "Previously, the warmest year of the century was 1998, when a strong El Nino, a warm water event in the eastern Pacific Ocean, added warmth to global temperatures. However, what's significant, regardless of whether 2005 is first or second warmest, is that global warmth has returned to about the level of 1998 without the help of an El Nino.
        "

        Please do enjoy the full article.



    • wvstephens, on 08/05/2008, -3/+2Hmmm warming at a fast rate.. If I am not mistaken did they not find a fully frozen, and perfectly preserved Mammoth? Seems to me that to be perfectly preserved, it had to be warm at least enough for life one day. Then cold as hell the next and stayed that way. So it seems to me that the last ice age came on rather quickly. The way I see it, modern man has not been around long enough to have an accurate recorded history of the earths climate. Are we warming? I am sure we are, is it due to man made problems? (doubtful)
      • MrSlumberjack, on 08/06/2008, -0/+1Mammoths lived specifically in an extremely cold environment. If they were to die, from ANY cause, their bodies would freeze and become preserved. To make a broad judgement about a change in climate based on the fact that a frozen, preserved Mammoth has been discovered is ignorant.
    • TetchyTony, on 08/05/2008, -3/+1Notice that TFA says: "...For the vast majority of Earth history there was no permanent ice like is common today at the poles..."
  • wily6, on 08/05/2008, -0/+7I hope they find Superman's Lair...
  • rynTAU, on 08/05/2008, -0/+3It's Atlantis... mark my words.. :)
    • snds, on 08/05/2008, -0/+6Nope. That, sir, is an Ancient Outpost. Atlantis on the other hand is in the Pegasus Galaxy.

      *insert nerd insult here*
    • Depravo, on 08/05/2008, -0/+1That's what Graham Hancock says.
    • CATSCEO2, on 08/05/2008, -0/+2No, its R'lyeh. Make way for Cthulhu.
  • Puttzy, on 08/05/2008, -6/+29Wait a second . . . it was warm there . . . then cold. Are you saying the earth has cycles of climate change. STFU!! No way!!
    • askantik, on 08/05/2008, -6/+8Yeah, every couple million years. A cycle doesn't come about in 200 years, mate.
  • bluesparks, on 08/05/2008, -1/+5Did they find star-shaped snow mounds as well?
  • mrbradg, on 08/05/2008, -1/+1Very cool.
  • SkippyDoorknob, on 08/05/2008, -0/+14If they run across a guy chasing a dog, SHOOT THE DOG!!!
  • hellride66, on 08/05/2008, -1/+2they have to throw it all out though because it has freezer burn
  • Slybri, on 08/05/2008, -0/+7It's the Savage Land! We can mine it's precious Vibranium!
    • reformedgeek, on 08/05/2008, -0/+2DUGG for Marvel Reference! Just hope its free from Skrulls!
    • ApokalypseNow, on 08/05/2008, -0/+2Ooh, that Antarctic vibranium is some nasty ***** - give me Wakandan vibranium any day over that stuff.
  • styrchn, on 08/05/2008, -3/+3Our world is totally unbelievable. I was watching a documentary last night and apparently the Mediterranean sea has dried out several times before. During one of those times, African elephants migrated onto the island of Sicily and grew smaller over time. Imagine - a goat sized adult elephant! What a discovery this is. I hope Antarctica doesn't warm to the point again to sustain tonnes of vegetation though....
  • Vurk, on 08/05/2008, -1/+4Two bucks says we find the league of doom there.
  • zadadka, on 08/05/2008, -4/+5Whilst the discovery is indeed completely fascinating, and will provide tremendous insight into a past we barely know of, we would do well to remember the cost of its uncovering.
    Simply, the release of millions of tons of captured carbon compounds into the atmosphere, further accelerating the warming process... the possible release of many, until now dormant, viral strains...and this quite apart from representing further evidence of the melting process that many have denied spells disaster for our, and many other, species ... on our tiny piece of solar driftwood.
    • flamingduck, on 08/05/2008, -1/+1wow somebody's in a pessimistic mood today
    • aramova, on 08/05/2008, -0/+1What's with digging the OP down? It's a valid thought, and much less far fetched then the new black hole genertor that's coming online.
    • Specializedone, on 08/06/2008, -0/+0That "viral storage" thing doesn't hold water in my opinion. A virus is extremely specific in how and what it infects. 14 million years of evolution would be a significant change in what the virus considers its host. Second, there would need to be large scale immigration of the proper host, as well as large scale emmigration, in order to get to anything that could be considered epidemic.
  • Hetman, on 08/05/2008, -5/+15lol did you click on the link to the article "Mankind is the 'Earth's biggest threat'" We are not a threat to the earth whatsoever. We are only a threat to our own way of life. Why do they always try to imply that the earth is some type of physical being with emoitions. What about meteors. Those seem like a pain in the ass to earth. "Well not really earth just the species that happen to inhabit it at the time." I am sick of all this *****.
    • kerguelen72, on 08/05/2008, -2/+5George Carlin said it best during a sketch about how the earth does'nt give a ***** - like you are saying, it's been bombarded my meteors. It's us. Not the earth. The earth does'nt give a *****.
    • ExRe, on 08/05/2008, -0/+2We are not a threat to this giant rock we live on. It'll continue to be a giant rock as long as it isn't completely obliterated.

      However, the mass amounts of trash and the amount of forests destroyed is a threat to other animals.
  • DeadBabySoup, on 08/05/2008, -3/+1EARTH: "Oh...so you wanna just keep ***** me up huh? Well i'm just gonna have to fry you like bacon to grow my new jungle at the bottom of the planet!"
  • Arghblarg, on 08/05/2008, -1/+4Tekali-li-li!

    That is not dead which can eternal lie.
    And with strange æons even death may die.
  • diggtochina, on 08/05/2008, -0/+9Those were the best photos?
  • EttAppel, on 08/05/2008, -1/+1Littlefoot ?
  • Briankb68, on 08/05/2008, -1/+6"An abrupt and dramatic climate cooling of 8°C in 200,000 years forced the extinction of tundra plants and insects and brought interior Antarctica into a perpetual deep-freeze from which it has never emerged, though may do again as a result of climate change."

    Our liberation of the oppressed Antarctica must continue!

    Freeeeedooooommmm!
  • thanethane, on 08/05/2008, -8/+2I like this quote from TFA:

    "To be able to identify living species amongst the fossils is phenomenal. To think that modern counterparts have survived 14 million years on Earth without any significant changes in the details of their appearances is striking. It must mean that these organisms are so well-adapted to their habitats that in spite of repeated climate changes and isolation of populations for millions of years they have not become extinct but have survived."

    What? No evolution?
    • Hetman, on 08/05/2008, -0/+9Sharks have not changed for millions of years. That does not condradict evolution. It just means some animals have everything necessary to survive and are not effected by natural selection as much as other organisms are. They do say that their appearances is strikingly similiar. That does not mean the same.
    • ExRe, on 08/05/2008, -0/+6Some animals haven't changed much in millions of years!!!! EVOLUTION IS FAKE!!!! THIS IS PROOF.

      What about me looking at any other species? NOT LISTENING!!! LALALALALA NOT LISTENING IF I CANT HEAR YOU IT ISNT REAL LALALALALA
  • fattehboi, on 08/05/2008, -1/+5Blizzards new wraith of the lich king propaganda?
  • McHoffa, on 08/05/2008, -1/+1With so many unique species of animals on each of the other continents (esp australia), I wonder what lived there before it froze?
  • roflcopterdown, on 08/05/2008, -1/+2I hope they find a shoggoth.
  • bioviral, on 08/05/2008, -2/+5YAY GLOBAL WARMING!
  • parkskier426, on 08/05/2008, -1/+2I feel ignorant. I thought Antarctica was completely covered with a thick sheet of ice.
  • pumah, on 08/05/2008, -1/+3Beware, Megatron!
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