Scientists Drill Into Antarctica to 1,800 Meters, Melting Through 523 Meters of Ice with Hot Water, Descend Over 1,300 Meters to Bedrock, and Discover Shells and Marine Organisms Indicating Open Ocean for Millions of Years

Written by Noel Budeguer

Published on 23/02/2026 at 20:46

Updated on 23/02/2026 at 20:47

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A Project with 29 Experts Drills into the Antarctic Ice, Finds Fragments of Organisms That Depend on Sunlight, and Reveals That the Region Once Had Open Water Before Freezing Again

A historic drilling beneath the West Antarctic ice has revealed surprising evidence about the Earth’s climatic past. Scientists managed to reach the bedrock nearly 1,800 meters deep and extracted a geological core that records up to 23 million years of history.

The discovery is part of the international SWAIS2C project and could transform the way we understand the melting of polar ice caps. The recovered material offers direct clues about periods when the ocean was open where today there is a thick layer of ice.

An Unprecedented Climatic Record

To reach the ancient bed, researchers initially drilled 523 meters of ice using a pressurized hot water system. They then descended more than 1,300 meters with technical equipment to recover 228 meters of sediments and rocks.

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Each layer removed acts as a time capsule. According to the scientists, the sediments cover periods when the global average temperature was more than 2 °C higher than pre-industrial levels, a scenario similar to what the planet may face in the coming decades.

This continuous record will enhance climate models and predict with greater accuracy the future behavior of the Antarctic ice sheet. It is the longest sediment core ever drilled beneath a glacier.

Scientists work within a structure set up on the Antarctic ice while operating the deep drilling equipment of the SWAIS2C project, responsible for extracting a geological core that records millions of years of the planet’s climatic history.

Evidence of Open Ocean Beneath the Ice

Preliminary analyses revealed everything from fine mud to compact rock fragments. Part of the material indicates stable subglacial conditions, but other layers brought an even more striking discovery.

Fragments of shells and remains of marine organisms that depend on sunlight were identified among the sediments. This indicates that, during certain periods, there was open ocean where today there is more than 500 meters of ice.

The evidence suggests that the ice shelf in the region has retreated significantly in the past. This data reinforces the idea that West Antarctica is more sensitive to climate change than previously thought.

Direct Impact on Global Sea Level

West Antarctica contains enough ice to raise sea levels by four to five meters if complete melting occurs. Satellite observations have already shown accelerated mass loss in the region, increasing concern among the scientific community.

The new geological core, now being analyzed at the Scott Base scientific station, will allow for more accurate calculations of ocean temperatures during periods of ice retreat. This information is crucial for estimating the impact of global warming in the coming decades.

The discovery not only reveals a “hidden world” preserved for millions of years but also sends a clear warning about the planet’s future. Antarctica’s past may be the key to understanding how much sea levels could rise this century.

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Scientists Drill Into Antarctica to 1,800 Meters, Melting Through 523 Meters of Ice with Hot Water, Descend Over 1,300 Meters to Bedrock, and Discover Shells and Marine Organisms Indicating Open Ocean for Millions of Years

A Project with 29 Experts Drills into the Antarctic Ice, Finds Fragments of Organisms That Depend on Sunlight, and Reveals That the Region Once Had Open Water Before Freezing Again

An Unprecedented Climatic Record

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Evidence of Open Ocean Beneath the Ice

Direct Impact on Global Sea Level

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Scientists Drill Into Antarctica to 1,800 Meters, Melting Through 523 Meters of Ice with Hot Water, Descend Over 1,300 Meters to Bedrock, and Discover Shells and Marine Organisms Indicating Open Ocean for Millions of Years

A Project with 29 Experts Drills into the Antarctic Ice, Finds Fragments of Organisms That Depend on Sunlight, and Reveals That the Region Once Had Open Water Before Freezing Again

An Unprecedented Climatic Record

Major Oil, Gas, and Energy Event Will Take Place in Brazil: Macaé Energy Will Gather Petrobras, Equinor, Prio, Among Other Suppliers and Energy Executives for Business, Networking, and Employment Opportunities

Evidence of Open Ocean Beneath the Ice

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