Scientists shocked to find strange creatures deep under ice

Researchers accidentally discovered a life-bearing rock under a 900-meter thick ice shelf while attempting to obtain a sediment core. Video footage revealed unexpected images of organisms living in harsh conditions, including sponges and other stationary filter feeders. These organisms survive by ingesting food that falls on them, challenging previous assumptions about life in such environments. Scientists theorize that these animals feed on dead plankton carried by currents over long distances.

What was the initial goal of the researchers drilling through the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf?

• To obtain a sediment core

• To study ice thickness

• To find a life-bearing rock

• To capture video footage

What type of organisms were unexpectedly found beneath the ice shelf?

• Migratory birds

• Photosynthetic plants

• Stationary filter feeders

• Mobile predators

How do the organisms beneath the ice shelf obtain their food?

• Through photosynthesis

• By hunting smaller fish

• By absorbing nutrients from the ice

• By ingesting falling food particles

What types of organisms were identified on the boulder?

• Sponges and tube worms

• Mosses and lichens

• Coral reefs and algae

• Fish and crustaceans

What is the proposed source of food for the organisms living on the boulder?

• Dead plankton carried by currents

• Photosynthesis from sunlight

• Nutrients from the ice

• Live fish swimming by