Scientists have uncovered the gruesome secret behind Antarctica’s infamous Blood Falls – it’s alive with the descendants of ancient sea creatures.
The eerie crimson waterfall, which pours from the Taylor Glacier into Lake Bonney, has long fascinated researchers with its blood–like appearance.
Now, a study suggests the iron–rich brine emerging from beneath the ice is home to a unique community of marine microorganisms that have been trapped beneath the glacier for hundreds of thousands of years.
These included marine diatoms, haptophytes, dinoflagellates and ciliates – tiny organisms that usually inhabit the ocean.
These are the descendants of ancient marine communities that became isolated when
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