A team of Russian scientists are said to have breached the previously unexplored Lake Vostok, buried more than 2 miles under a layer of ice in central Antarctica. The lake, which spans over a hundred miles in length, has been sealed off from outside elements for 20 million years.
Earlier, worry mounted as days passed without word from the scientists on whether or not they had managed to drill deep enough to reach the surface of the lake. The drilling expedition, which has been ongoing for 14 years, took place under brutal, life-threatening weather conditions, including temperatures well below zero.
The lake could provide extremely valuable scientific insight into the prehistoric world, and there's even a possibility of discovering new life forms. The Russian government is expected to make a formal announcement in the coming weeks.
Here's what others are saying:
"They Did It! Russians Expose Lake Vostok Secrets"; Discovery News
"Russians drill into previously untouched Lake Vostok below Antarctic glacier"; The Washington Post