NASA Finds Shrimp Beneath Antarctica Ice

[Soylent Brice]

Scientists for the first time found a shrimp-like creature and a jellyfish frolicking beneath a massive Antarctic ice sheet. (AP Photo/NASA)

(AP) In a surprising discovery about where higher life can thrive, scientists for the first time found a shrimp-like creature and a jellyfish frolicking beneath a massive Antarctic ice sheet.

Six hundred feet below the ice where no light shines, scientists had figured nothing much more than a few microbes could exist.

That's why a NASA team was surprised when they lowered a video camera to get the first long look at the underbelly of an ice sheet in Antarctica. A curious shrimp-like creature came swimming by and then parked itself on the camera's cable. Scientists also pulled up a tentacle they believe came from a foot-long jellyfish.

"We were operating on the presumption that nothing's there," said NASA ice scientist Robert Bindschadler, who will be presenting the initial findings and a video at an American Geophysical Union meeting Wednesday. "It was a shrimp you'd enjoy having on your plate."

"We were just gaga over it," he said of the 3-inch-long, orange critter starring in their two-minute video. Technically, it's not a shrimp. It's a Lyssianasid amphipod, which is distantly related to shrimp.

more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/15/tech/main6300308.shtml

[MilesColtrane]

1. Now if they can just find a cocktail sauce geyser on Venus, my plan will come together.

[jobycom]

2. Next they'll find a grill and a sixpack.

[Ian David]

3. I just revised my personal guess about what kind of life we might find on Europa.

Before, I would bet on something like bacteria.

Now, I'd be willing to bet money on something like tubeworms.

[Johonny]

4. bacteria or archaean like life vastly safer bet than multicellular life

[rcrush]

7. What about little moving plant like creatures?

[FSogol]

5. So that's where frozen shrimp comes from. Thanks, NASA. n/t

[Ian David]

6. They should name it Pepe

[Giant Robot]

9. "I am NOT a shrimp"

"I am a KING PRAWN!!!!"

[Soylent Brice]

11. looks like they've migrated to South Africa...

[Kaleva]

8. Did the Hubble telescope flip around?

[daleo]

10. It's a neat clip

The shrimp is quite a curious little fellow. The camera loves him (or her).