Vibrant Marine Life Discovered Under Antarctic Ice; Sea Level Rise Insights from Ancient North Sea

A study revealed a thriving marine ecosystem beneath the George VI Ice Shelf in Antarctica, featuring sponges, anemones, icefish, and giant sea spiders. This discovery by the Schmidt Ocean Institute highlights the resilience of life in extreme conditions and the urgent need to protect these habitats from climate change. Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) captured high-resolution images, revealing an intricate web of life in this unique habitat. Separately, research on historical sea-level rise provides insights into the impact of global warming on melting ice sheets. Analyzing boreholes from submerged peat layers in Doggerland, a former land bridge in the North Sea, researchers from the University of Sheffield and international partners found that sea levels briefly rose by more than a meter per century during the early Holocene. The total rise between 11,000 and 3,000 years ago was approximately 38 meters. This data offers a reference point for understanding current sea-level rise, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projecting similar rates by 2150.