Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Beneath Antarctica’s Lake Enigma, once thought to be solid ice, lies a hidden layer of liquid water teeming with life.
Ground-penetrating radar revealed 40 feet of liquid water under the ice, a stunning discovery during the 2019–2020 expedition.
Water in the lake is replenished by the nearby Amorphous Glacier through an enigmatic underground channel.
Microbial mats, covering the lakebed, range from spiky coatings to amorphous tree-like structures up to 24 inches wide.
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Despite being isolated, Lake Enigma’s waters have high dissolved oxygen levels, sustaining diverse microbial life.
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The lake harbors Patescibacteria, tiny organisms never before found in such high-oxygen environments, showing unique survival tricks.
Many lake microbes are photosynthetic, a surprising adaptation in a light-starved, ice-covered ecosystem.
The bacteria exhibit unique metabolic adaptations, forming mutually beneficial or predatory relationships with host cells.
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Published in Communications Earth & Environment, this research underscores the resilience of life in Earth’s harshest environments.