A hidden world beneath Antarctica’s ice: 34 million years of preserved history! Deep beneath over a mile of ice in East Antarctica, scientists have uncovered an extraordinary hidden landscape—an ancient world of rivers, valleys, and possibly even forests, all untouched by sunlight for over 34 million years. Discovered in Wilkes Land, a remote part of Antarctica the size of Belgium, this pristine terrain is like cracking open a time capsule from Earth’s deep past. Using satellite imagery and ice-penetrating radar, researchers revealed a landscape spanning 12,000 square miles, similar in size to Maryland. The terrain features three massive highland blocks separated by valleys that plunge nearly 4,000 feet deep. This part of Antarctica, once part of the supercontinent Gondwana, likely boasted flowing rivers and dense forests under a mild climate. Palm tree pollen found along the coast further supports this lush history. Over millions of years, as Antarctica drifted toward the South Pole, the climate shifted dramatically. Falling carbon dioxide levels and ocean current changes triggered an ice age, which gradually froze the land. The East Antarctic Ice Sheet sealed the region 14 million years ago, preserving it remarkably well. Today, researchers are excited to explore this preserved ancient world, providing crucial insights into how Antarctica’s ice sheets formed and how they might respond to global warming. Despite the challenges of drilling through thick ice, scientists are eager to piece together the secrets of this lost world. Follow Factology for more awe-inspiring discoveries beneath our planet’s surface. #DidYouKnow #FoodForThoughts #InterestingFacts #Antarctica #IceSheetDiscovery #AncientLandscapes #ClimateScience

🌋 It’s one of the most dangerous places on Earth—and yet, many people may not have heard of it. The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped belt stretching over 40,000 kilometers around the Pacific Ocean, home to some of Earth’s most intense geological activity. This volatile region hosts about 75% of all active volcanoes and experiences nearly 90% of the world’s earthquakes. It runs through countries like Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Zealand, the west coasts of North and South America, and even Antarctica. What makes the Ring of Fire so dangerous is the movement of tectonic plates. Here, massive plates of Earth’s crust collide, pull apart, or slide past each other in a slow but constant struggle. Subduction zones—where one plate dives beneath another—generate immense pressure, eventually unleashing it as powerful earthquakes or explosive volcanic eruptions. Some of history’s most catastrophic natural disasters have emerged from this region, including the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Yet, the Ring of Fire isn’t just a zone of destruction. Its geothermal energy supports local communities, its volcanic soils nourish rich ecosystems, and its landscapes—like Mount Fuji and Chile’s volcanic fields—are breathtakingly beautiful. The Ring of Fire is a dramatic reminder of how alive and dynamic our planet truly is.

In a groundbreaking discovery beneath the frigid Weddell Sea near Antarctica, researchers uncovered a massive colony of over 60 million icefish (*Neopagetopsis ionah*) nests — the largest known fish breeding colony on Earth. Stretching across 240 square kilometers (an area nearly the size of Malta), these neatly spaced circular nests were each about 75 centimeters in diameter and often guarded by a single adult icefish. The fish use their bodies and fins to clear sediment and lay thousands of eggs in the bare gravel. What makes this discovery remarkable is not just the sheer scale but the ecological importance. This densely packed nursery supports a unique under-ice ecosystem, attracting predators like seals and providing vital insights into polar marine biodiversity. The site’s proximity to nutrient-rich upwellings may explain its productivity, prompting calls for urgent conservation measures to protect this fragile and previously unknown biological hotspot.