News in Brief Animals

Cryptic remains of tiny animals have turned up in an Antarctic lake

Mud from Lake Mercer revealed crushed critters that resembled spiders and worms

drilling into Lake Mercer

LONG WAY DOWN Mud drawn from an Antarctic lake buried underneath a kilometer of ice contains what appear to be remnants of animals like crustaceans and water bears.

Billy Collins/SALSA Science Team

By Maria Temming

- More than 2 years ago

Much to their surprise, scientists in Antarctica have uncovered what appear to be remnants of tiny animals in mud dredged from a lake that has been covered by a thick mantle of ice for thousands of years.