A Chicago-sized iceberg broke away from Antarctica's George VI Ice Shelf last month, exposing a thriving deep-sea ecosystem untouched by humans. Scientists found a variety of marine species, including giant sea spiders, octopuses, and centuries-old sponges at depths of up to 1,300 meters.
This discovery is significant as it provides essential baseline data for understanding how deep-sea life is changing in a warming climate. The ice shelf has retreated by 40 kilometers over the past 50 years, underscoring the accelerating loss of Antarctic ice and potential threats to these newly uncovered ecosystems.