A newly discovered "microbial jungle" deep under the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica, hundreds of kilometres from the open sea, that thrives without light, has been discovered by Kathryn's guest, Sergio Morales, Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Otago.
The Antarctic discovery of an entirely new and minute form of organic life is part of a multi-disciplinary research project involving drillers from Victoria University of Wellington.
Sergio's co-project leader Christina Hulbe, Dean of the School of Surveying at the University of Otago, has led the Ross Ice Shelf project since 2014 and coordinated Sergio's expedition.
Christina, a glaciologist who focusses on ice mechanics and dynamics, and whose expertise has helped Sergio's team get samples up through a 400m hole in the ice shelf also joins the conversation.
