Lake Vostok Archives

Clean floating sea foam (Sample 3) was collected directly from the shoreline of the ocean in RI on 23rd December 2023 (left). The wind was from the West. The foam was scooped in a glass bottle, transported to the laboratory, aspirated directly into chloroform in a V-vial and the methanol and water added to give a Folch 2-phase system of chloroform:methanol:water (3.3:2:1). On vortexing, clear vesicles formed at the Folch interphase (right). The vesicles were stable at room temperature for 1-2 weeks. The intact vesicles were analyzed by MALDI mass spectrometry producing from this sample only the 1657-1663 m/z sequence. -- physics.chem-ph

Lake Vostok Contains a Diverse Set of Gene Sequences

by Keith CowingJuly 8, 2013

Lake Vostok, the 7th largest (by volume) and 4th deepest lake on Earth, is covered by more than 3,700 m of ice, making it the largest subglacial lake known. The […]

Researchers drilling into Lake Vida in October, 1996. Image courtesy of the Priscu Research Group, Montana State University at Bozeman

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mars, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Tricorders & Sensors, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Researchers Uncover Extreme Lake — and 3000-Year-Old Microbes — in a Mars-Like Antarctic Environment

by Keith CowingDecember 16, 2002April 14, 2024

NSF-supported researchers drilling into Lake Vida, an Antarctic “ice-block” lake, have found the lake isn’t really an ice block at all. In the December 16 issue of the Proceedings of the […]