{"id":598327,"date":"2026-08-28T05:46:59","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T05:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/598327\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T05:46:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T05:46:59","slug":"when-a-colossal-iceberg-broke-free-in-antarctica-scientists-found-something-astounding-beneath-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/598327\/","title":{"rendered":"When a colossal iceberg broke free in Antarctica, scientists found something astounding beneath it"},"content":{"rendered":"

In March 2025, a team of international scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute\u2019s research vessel, R\/V\u00a0Falkor (too) shared a remarkable set of images and videos from a section of Antarctic seafloor that had been concealed beneath ice for centuries. <\/p>\n

The shots were taken on a mission to explore the freshly exposed seabed left behind by the enormous A-84 iceberg, which dramatically broke away from the George VI Ice Shelf on 13 January 2025. <\/p>\n

Measuring a staggering 510 square kilometres \u2013 roughly the size of Chicago \u2013 the iceberg\u2019s sudden departure revealed a vast and previously inaccessible underwater world.<\/p>\n

Join the expedition team as they discover a hidden world beneath the ice. Credit: Schmidt Ocean Institute<\/p>\n

A thriving and unexpected ecosystem<\/p>\n

Armed with cutting-edge technology, including the remotely operated vehicle (ROV)\u00a0SuBastian, the scientists embarked on an eight-day, deep-sea survey, plunging to depths of up to 1,300 metres. <\/p>\n

What they found was nothing short of astonishing \u2013 an abundant and vibrant ecosystem flourishing in total darkness beneath the ice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe seized upon the moment, changed our expedition plan, and went for it so we could look at what was happening in the depths below,\u201d said expedition scientist Dr. Patricia Esquete.<\/p>\n

“We didn\u2019t expect to find such a beautiful, thriving ecosystem. Based on the size of the animals, the communities we observed have been there for decades, maybe even hundreds of years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"PhantomA giant phantom jelly, documented in the Bellingshausen Sea off Antarctica, at an area where the shelf break and slope are cut by several underwater gullies\/Credit: ROV SuBastian, Schmidt Ocean Institute<\/p>\n

Corals and sponges played host to a variety of marine life<\/a>, including icefish<\/a>, huge sea spiders<\/a>, octopuses and even a giant phantom jelly<\/a>, a species of jellyfish that can grow up to a metre wide, while its four ribbon-like oral arms can measure more than 10 metres in length.<\/p>\n

The team suspected they may have discovered several species new to science, offering a fresh perspective on life beneath Antarctica\u2019s floating ice shelves.<\/p>\n

\"FalkorResearch vessel\u00a0Falkor (too)\u00a0manoeuvres around icebergs while conducting research in the Bellingshausen Sea off Antarctica. Credit: Alex Ingle, Schmidt Ocean Institute<\/p>\n

Rethinking life beneath the ice<\/p>\n

Until recently, little was known about the organisms residing beneath Antarctica\u2019s vast ice shelves. The discovery of such a biodiverse ecosystem presents new mysteries \u2013 how do these creatures survive in a place completely cut off from sunlight and the usual food sources?<\/p>\n

Deep-sea communities typically depend on organic material sinking from surface waters, yet this region had been entombed beneath 150-metre-thick ice for centuries, said the researchers.<\/p>\n

The team hypothesises that ocean currents could be transporting essential nutrients, sustaining life in this hidden world.<\/p>\n

\"IcebergSatellite imagery from 19 January 2025 showing where the iceberg calved from George VI Ice Shelf in the Bellingshausen Sea. Credit: NASA Worldview application<\/p>\n

Unlocking climate secrets<\/p>\n

Beyond its biological wonders, the expedition yielded critical insights into Antarctica\u2019s past and future. The team, who were investigating geological clues left by the retreating ice sheet, said that understanding these patterns is crucial for predicting future ice loss and its impact on rising sea levels worldwide<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ice loss from the Antarctic Ice Sheet is a major contributor to sea level rise worldwide,\u201d said expedition scientist Sasha Montelli.<\/p>\n

“Our work is critical for providing longer-term context of these recent changes, improving our ability to make projections of future change \u2013 projections that can inform actionable policies. <\/p>\n

“We will undoubtedly make new discoveries as we continue to analyse this vital data.\u201d<\/p>\n

The team deployed autonomous underwater gliders to measure how glacial meltwater is influencing the region\u2019s chemistry and ocean currents. Preliminary findings suggested heightened biological productivity and a significant influx of meltwater from the retreating ice shelf.<\/p>\n

\"PeriphyllaA helmet jellyfish drifts through the deep with tentacles splayed\/Credit: ROV SuBastian, Schmidt Ocean Institute<\/p>\n

This mission forms part of\u00a0Challenger 150<\/a>, a UNESCO-endorsed global initiative dedicated to deep-sea research. Schmidt Ocean Institute\u2019s executive director, Dr Jyotika Virmani, said that “being right there when this iceberg calved from the ice shelf presented a rare scientific opportunity.<\/p>\n

“Serendipitous moments are part of the excitement of research at sea \u2013 they offer the chance to be the first to witness the untouched beauty of our world.\u201d<\/p>\n

What else did they find?
\n\"AnAn octopus rests on the seafloor 1,150 metres deep. Credit: ROV SuBastian, Schmidt Ocean Institute
\n\"SpongeA large sponge, a cluster of anemones, and other life seen nearly 230 metres deep. Credit: ROV SuBastian, Schmidt Ocean Institute
\n\"SpongeBrittle stars climb on a sponge, documented at a depth of 215 metres. This area, at the southeastern end of the Ronne Entrance off the Bellingshausen Sea, lost its ice shelf cover a few years ago. Credit: ROV SuBastian, Schmidt Ocean Institute
\n\"SolitaryA solitary hydroid drifts in currents approximately 380 metres deep. Solitary hydroids are related to corals, jellyfish and anemones, but do not form colonies. Credit: ROV SuBastian, Schmidt Ocean Institute
\n\"Krill\"Krill swarm the lights of the remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Credit: ROV SuBastian, Schmidt Ocean Institute
\n\"AA squid reveals a fish it is consuming at a depth of nearly 950 metres. Credit: ROV SuBastian, Schmidt Ocean Institute<\/p>\n

Main image: an octopus rests on the seafloor 1,150 metres deep, in the Bellingshausen Sea off Antarctica. Credit: ROV SuBastian, Schmidt Ocean Institute<\/p>\n

More amazing wildlife stories from around the world<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In March 2025, a team of international scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute\u2019s research vessel, R\/V\u00a0Falkor (too) shared…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":598328,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[242,85,46,141],"class_list":["post-598327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-environment","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/598327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=598327"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/598327\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/598328"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=598327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=598327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=598327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}