Antarctica: Mystery continent holds key to mankind's future

[rdunk]

The subject is the title of an interesting new piece about Antarctica. Obviously, Antarctica is one of the least explored ares on this Earth, so there still remains much to be learned from what is to be discovered there.

"It's a window out to the universe and in time," said Kelly Falkner, polar program chief for the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Clues to answering humanity's most basic questions are locked in this continental freezer the size of the United States and half of Canada: Where did we come from? Are we alone in the universe? What's the fate of our warming planet?

"Antarctica in many ways is like another planet," said Jose Retamales, the director of the Chilean Antarctic Institute, while aboard a navy ship cruising along Deception and the other South Shetland islands. "It's a completely different world."

The full article:  http://news.yahoo.com/antarctica-mystery-continent-holds-key-mankinds-future-050358318.html


edit (Mod note - this maybe should be in the "This Magnificient Planet" forum board - if so please move)