National Oceanography Centre's Antarctic mission to find alien life called off

Antarctic mission to find alien life called off Antarctic mission to find alien life called off

SCIENTISTS searching for undiscovered life forms in an ancient lake beneath the Antarctic have been forced to call off their mission.

The team, which includes engineers from the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton, believed water samples and sediment under the ice would bring new knowledge about the evolution of life on earth - and even give clues about life on other planets.

But the project has been abandoned for this Antarctic season because the team ran out of fuel trying to link two underground boreholes.

Professor Martin Siegert, who is leading the mission, said drilling down towards subglacial Lake Ellsworth had been running smoothly over the weekend after hitting snags.

But the experiment came to a grinding halt on Christmas Eve because scientists could not form a water-filled cavity 300 metres beneath the ice - despite trying for more than 20 hours.

The cavity was to link the main borehole with a secondary borehole used to recirculate drilling water back to the surface.

Professor Siegert said the link failed “for reasons that are yet to be determined” - but remains hopeful the mission can be completed in future seasons.

He added: “Although circumstances have not worked out as we would have wished, I am confident that through the huge efforts of the field team, and our colleagues in the UK, we have done as much as we possibly could have done, and I sincerely thank them all.

“Sixteen years ago, we hypothesised that deep-water subglacial lakes are viable habitats for life, and contain important records of ice and climate history.

“For now, these hypotheses remain untested. Once back in the UK I will gather our consortium to seek ways in which our research efforts may continue.

“I remain confident that we will unlock the secrets of Lake Ellsworth in coming seasons.”

A unique 5m-long water sampling probe was designed and built by engineers at the city's NOC while the 12-strong team included Southampton engineers Robin Brown and Ed Waugh.

During the process to link the two boreholes, hot water seeped into the porous surface layers of ice and was lost.

The team attempted to replenish this water loss by digging and melting more snow, but their efforts were ultimately in vain.

The additional time taken to attempt to establish the cavity link “significantly depleted” the fuel stocks to such a level that it would not have been possible to complete the operation.

Professor Siegert added: “This is of course, hugely frustrating for us, but we have learned a lot this year. By the end the equipment was working well, and much of it has now been fully field tested.

“A full report on the field season will be compiled when the engineers and programme manager return to UK.”

The Lake Ellsworth Consortium is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). It features two of NERC's Centres of Excellence - British Antarctic Survey and the National Oceanography Centre - and nine UK universities.

Comments(38)

southy says...
12:06pm Thu 27 Dec 12

Will this mean that they will be asking people like myself to return back to Antarctia to help out and put the our skills back in use.

hulla baloo says...
12:11pm Thu 27 Dec 12

Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?

Torchie1 says...
12:30pm Thu 27 Dec 12

hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.

southy says...
12:49pm Thu 27 Dec 12

Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.

hulla baloo says...
12:54pm Thu 27 Dec 12

southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.

Torchie1 says...
12:59pm Thu 27 Dec 12

hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.

southy says...
1:20pm Thu 27 Dec 12

Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"

southy says...
1:34pm Thu 27 Dec 12

southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.

Bevois Valley Resident says...
2:15pm Thu 27 Dec 12

southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
Members of the team work at the university. That doesn't mean they are 'young ones' by any means. The scientists are largely middle-aged, with 15 or 20 years' experience.
I say this not because I'm involved in the project but because I was intersted in it and bothered to look at the website and other stories.
I am genuinely fascinated to hear what your area of expertise in this field is.

hulla baloo says...
2:28pm Thu 27 Dec 12

Bevois Valley Resident wrote:
southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
Members of the team work at the university. That doesn't mean they are 'young ones' by any means. The scientists are largely middle-aged, with 15 or 20 years' experience.
I say this not because I'm involved in the project but because I was intersted in it and bothered to look at the website and other stories.
I am genuinely fascinated to hear what your area of expertise in this field is.
I am also interested to know, and have asked twice,but in usual Southy style, avoids the questions and goes off on a rant.

Torchie1 says...
2:39pm Thu 27 Dec 12

hulla baloo wrote:
Bevois Valley Resident wrote:
southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
Members of the team work at the university. That doesn't mean they are 'young ones' by any means. The scientists are largely middle-aged, with 15 or 20 years' experience.
I say this not because I'm involved in the project but because I was intersted in it and bothered to look at the website and other stories.
I am genuinely fascinated to hear what your area of expertise in this field is.
I am also interested to know, and have asked twice,but in usual Southy style, avoids the questions and goes off on a rant.
Did you really expect anything other than waffle from someone who is posting about how he wished his life had been instead of how it actually was?

Bevois Valley Resident says...
2:46pm Thu 27 Dec 12

southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
By the way, this may seem terribly pedantic, but I thought you might like to know that the expression is 'in other words', not 'another words', and people need to learn about 'pitfalls' not 'pit fulls'.

Of the Ilk says...
3:12pm Thu 27 Dec 12

Bevois Valley Resident wrote:
southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
By the way, this may seem terribly pedantic, but I thought you might like to know that the expression is 'in other words', not 'another words', and people need to learn about 'pitfalls' not 'pit fulls'.
It is no good trying to correct southy's English - he knows best!

Inform Al says...
4:15pm Thu 27 Dec 12

If they need someone to mess it up next year, I'm the man.

100%HANTSBOY says...
5:31am Fri 28 Dec 12

southy wrote:
Will this mean that they will be asking people like myself to return back to Antarctia to help out and put the our skills back in use.
Not sure they need someone else to make tea,they've probably got that covered,nice of you to offer though!!

localnews says...
9:34am Fri 28 Dec 12

100%HANTSBOY wrote:
southy wrote:
Will this mean that they will be asking people like myself to return back to Antarctia to help out and put the our skills back in use.
Not sure they need someone else to make tea,they've probably got that covered,nice of you to offer though!!
I think what Southy means is if he's sent up there he can melt the rest of the ice with all that hot air

The Wickham Man says...
9:42am Fri 28 Dec 12

The British Antarctic Survey needed someone who can roll an Old Holborn in a gale. "Send for Southy" came the cry. "He's spent years hiding behind a lifeboat doing it when he was supposed to be cleaning the heads"

Linesman says...
10:22am Fri 28 Dec 12

Why go all the was to Antartica to search for alien life forms?

There are abundant examples of various alien life forms scattered throughout Southampton, and you don't have to dig a deep hole to find them.

southy says...
10:58am Fri 28 Dec 12

localnews wrote:
100%HANTSBOY wrote:
southy wrote:
Will this mean that they will be asking people like myself to return back to Antarctia to help out and put the our skills back in use.
Not sure they need someone else to make tea,they've probably got that covered,nice of you to offer though!!
I think what Southy means is if he's sent up there he can melt the rest of the ice with all that hot air
Try down and not up

southy says...
11:00am Fri 28 Dec 12

Linesman wrote:
Why go all the was to Antartica to search for alien life forms?

There are abundant examples of various alien life forms scattered throughout Southampton, and you don't have to dig a deep hole to find them.
very true lines theres a few showing up on this artical

freefinker says...
11:56am Fri 28 Dec 12

southy wrote:
localnews wrote:
100%HANTSBOY wrote:
southy wrote:
Will this mean that they will be asking people like myself to return back to Antarctia to help out and put the our skills back in use.
Not sure they need someone else to make tea,they've probably got that covered,nice of you to offer though!!
I think what Southy means is if he's sent up there he can melt the rest of the ice with all that hot air
Try down and not up
.. oh dear, very northern hemisphere-centric of you.

There is absolutely no logical geographical or astronomical reason why we project maps to show the Arctic at the top, Antarctica at the bottom.

We are on a spinning ball – there are no ups and downs in the cosmos.

Torchie1 says...
12:14pm Fri 28 Dec 12

freefinker wrote:
southy wrote:
localnews wrote:
100%HANTSBOY wrote:
southy wrote:
Will this mean that they will be asking people like myself to return back to Antarctia to help out and put the our skills back in use.
Not sure they need someone else to make tea,they've probably got that covered,nice of you to offer though!!
I think what Southy means is if he's sent up there he can melt the rest of the ice with all that hot air
Try down and not up
.. oh dear, very northern hemisphere-centric of you.

There is absolutely no logical geographical or astronomical reason why we project maps to show the Arctic at the top, Antarctica at the bottom.

We are on a spinning ball – there are no ups and downs in the cosmos.
I expect the comment was based on IoW ferry experience where the ferry steams down the Southampton Water towards Cowes and up again on the homeward journey.

Cyber__Fug says...
12:25pm Fri 28 Dec 12

southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
Priceless ! Stupidity at its very best !

I bet the government wish they had talked to you before embarked on this expedition !!!

southy says...
2:55pm Fri 28 Dec 12

Cyber__Fug wrote:
southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
Priceless ! Stupidity at its very best !

I bet the government wish they had talked to you before embarked on this expedition !!!
more stupidity from you as the government do not run or controll any part of the BAS, NERC money is paid in to run but they are self run bodys and out side of government interference. its just a shame that the type of capitalist governments we have had in the last 32 years have not listen to what these people tell them and only pick the bits that suit them.

Torchie1 says...
2:58pm Fri 28 Dec 12

southy wrote:
Cyber__Fug wrote:
southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
Priceless ! Stupidity at its very best !

I bet the government wish they had talked to you before embarked on this expedition !!!
more stupidity from you as the government do not run or controll any part of the BAS, NERC money is paid in to run but they are self run bodys and out side of government interference. its just a shame that the type of capitalist governments we have had in the last 32 years have not listen to what these people tell them and only pick the bits that suit them.
Not listening is an odd accusation from someone who refuses to answer any questions at all after making a statement of self-expertise on a subject he clearly knows nothing about. As they say "priceless".

southy says...
3:08pm Fri 28 Dec 12

Bevois Valley Resident wrote:
southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
Members of the team work at the university. That doesn't mean they are 'young ones' by any means. The scientists are largely middle-aged, with 15 or 20 years' experience.
I say this not because I'm involved in the project but because I was intersted in it and bothered to look at the website and other stories.
I am genuinely fascinated to hear what your area of expertise in this field is.
Scientist tend to stay at the lab and wait, very few will go onto the field ( they do that when they was students and go as part of the tech support).
Drilling or if you like sinking a well head is part of a riggers job, and none of these people have any expertise in this field, it takes 8 years of your life to train just to be a rigger and 4 of them is deep sea on a deck of a ship

southy says...
3:21pm Fri 28 Dec 12

Torchie1 wrote:
southy wrote:
Cyber__Fug wrote:
southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
Priceless ! Stupidity at its very best !

I bet the government wish they had talked to you before embarked on this expedition !!!
more stupidity from you as the government do not run or controll any part of the BAS, NERC money is paid in to run but they are self run bodys and out side of government interference. its just a shame that the type of capitalist governments we have had in the last 32 years have not listen to what these people tell them and only pick the bits that suit them.
Not listening is an odd accusation from someone who refuses to answer any questions at all after making a statement of self-expertise on a subject he clearly knows nothing about. As they say "priceless".
all questions have been answered it just you do not choose to listen to them, ot is it a case you do not under stand the answers.

Of the Ilk says...
3:25pm Fri 28 Dec 12

southy wrote:
Bevois Valley Resident wrote:
southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
Members of the team work at the university. That doesn't mean they are 'young ones' by any means. The scientists are largely middle-aged, with 15 or 20 years' experience.
I say this not because I'm involved in the project but because I was intersted in it and bothered to look at the website and other stories.
I am genuinely fascinated to hear what your area of expertise in this field is.
Scientist tend to stay at the lab and wait, very few will go onto the field ( they do that when they was students and go as part of the tech support).
Drilling or if you like sinking a well head is part of a riggers job, and none of these people have any expertise in this field, it takes 8 years of your life to train just to be a rigger and 4 of them is deep sea on a deck of a ship
Possibly true - I have no experience of drilling and the associated industry.
However, they are not using a conventional drill, but a jet of super heated sterile water to melt their way through the ice.
And if the find any life it will be from this Earth and not alien.

Stephen J says...
3:51pm Fri 28 Dec 12

southy wrote:
Bevois Valley Resident wrote:
southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
Members of the team work at the university. That doesn't mean they are 'young ones' by any means. The scientists are largely middle-aged, with 15 or 20 years' experience.
I say this not because I'm involved in the project but because I was intersted in it and bothered to look at the website and other stories.
I am genuinely fascinated to hear what your area of expertise in this field is.
Scientist tend to stay at the lab and wait, very few will go onto the field ( they do that when they was students and go as part of the tech support).
Drilling or if you like sinking a well head is part of a riggers job, and none of these people have any expertise in this field, it takes 8 years of your life to train just to be a rigger and 4 of them is deep sea on a deck of a ship
Have you looked at the credentials of the engineers involved in this project? Are you aware of the special requirements of drilling in Antarctica in general and of this project in particular? Do you understand why standard drilling techniques are therefore completely unsuitable?

The Wickham Man says...
3:55pm Fri 28 Dec 12

southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
You really are unbelievably and phenominally, stupid and ignorant about everything aren't you. You are just so breathtakingly stupid you actually have no idea how stupid you are. I once suspected there was a kind of zen like knowingness around your vast savannahs of no knowledge but there isn't. You aren't even aware of it - you just have no idea what an absurd buffoon you are.
The complexities of what they are doing down there and the methods they are using to resolve problems are so beyond you you would not even recognise the problems, let alone know what to do about them.

Torchie1 says...
5:03pm Fri 28 Dec 12

southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
southy wrote:
Cyber__Fug wrote:
southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
Priceless ! Stupidity at its very best !

I bet the government wish they had talked to you before embarked on this expedition !!!
more stupidity from you as the government do not run or controll any part of the BAS, NERC money is paid in to run but they are self run bodys and out side of government interference. its just a shame that the type of capitalist governments we have had in the last 32 years have not listen to what these people tell them and only pick the bits that suit them.
Not listening is an odd accusation from someone who refuses to answer any questions at all after making a statement of self-expertise on a subject he clearly knows nothing about. As they say "priceless".
all questions have been answered it just you do not choose to listen to them, ot is it a case you do not under stand the answers.
Just out of curiosity, what was the name of the vessel that you took to the Antarctic?

IronLady2010 says...
5:05pm Fri 28 Dec 12

Torchie1 wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
southy wrote:
Cyber__Fug wrote:
southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
Priceless ! Stupidity at its very best !

I bet the government wish they had talked to you before embarked on this expedition !!!
more stupidity from you as the government do not run or controll any part of the BAS, NERC money is paid in to run but they are self run bodys and out side of government interference. its just a shame that the type of capitalist governments we have had in the last 32 years have not listen to what these people tell them and only pick the bits that suit them.
Not listening is an odd accusation from someone who refuses to answer any questions at all after making a statement of self-expertise on a subject he clearly knows nothing about. As they say "priceless".
all questions have been answered it just you do not choose to listen to them, ot is it a case you do not under stand the answers.
Just out of curiosity, what was the name of the vessel that you took to the Antarctic?
HMS Rubber Dinghy ;-)

Torchie1 says...
5:34pm Fri 28 Dec 12

IronLady2010 wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
southy wrote:
Cyber__Fug wrote:
southy wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
southy wrote:
Torchie1 wrote:
hulla baloo wrote:
Please explain ' like myself'? Is being an Antarctic scientist also in your extensive list of 'specialist' subjects?
It would be amusing but pointless to ask what these 'skills' are but lets give Southy a chance to explain clearly why he would be in demand when recognised specialists have called it a day? I sense a tidal wave of waffle coming over the horizon.
You are way out of your depth the both of you, to know what is going on down there you need connections and to get those connections you need of been there in the first place, its not all about scientist there are a very few of them down there, most is made up by technicions that find out things then samples are sent back to the scientist to study, And what are these specialist a bunch young university people that have not had the experence of doing this sort of thing before, this is not the first time its been done, it just its the first time they doing it this way to test some thing out for NASA.
Still does not explain your comment.
I knew it would be a litany of waffle but the stories are always worth waiting for.
It do, as the old saying go's " you can not have youth with experence, experence comes with age and time"
Another words these young ones can not learn if there are no people there that have done this sort of thing all ready, they need to be shown how its done, they also need to learn the pit fulls.
I bet they never even tested to see how fast and in what direction the ice is moving.
Priceless ! Stupidity at its very best !

I bet the government wish they had talked to you before embarked on this expedition !!!
more stupidity from you as the government do not run or controll any part of the BAS, NERC money is paid in to run but they are self run bodys and out side of government interference. its just a shame that the type of capitalist governments we have had in the last 32 years have not listen to what these people tell them and only pick the bits that suit them.
Not listening is an odd accusation from someone who refuses to answer any questions at all after making a statement of self-expertise on a subject he clearly knows nothing about. As they say "priceless".
all questions have been answered it just you do not choose to listen to them, ot is it a case you do not under stand the answers.
Just out of curiosity, what was the name of the vessel that you took to the Antarctic?
HMS Rubber Dinghy ;-)
I can't seem to find one of the on-line pages of 'crew lists' for that particular vessel.

IronLady2010 says...
5:36pm Fri 28 Dec 12

Torchie1, you will only find it in the Library!

freefinker says...
5:52pm Fri 28 Dec 12

IronLady2010 wrote:
Torchie1, you will only find it in the Library!
LOL - I'm creased up with that one.
southy really is a card, isn't he?
I may disagree with a lot that The Wickham Man says, but he has it spot on above at 3.55pm.

Torchie1 says...
6:35pm Fri 28 Dec 12

IronLady2010 wrote:
Torchie1, you will only find it in the Library!
Southy won't name a vessel that could be linked to a 'crew list' and I think it will now be an early night with the usual excuses.

freefinker says...
7:36pm Fri 28 Dec 12

Torchie1 wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
Torchie1, you will only find it in the Library!
Southy won't name a vessel that could be linked to a 'crew list' and I think it will now be an early night with the usual excuses.
.. I think he may have been to Antartica.

I seem to remember when he was arguing about the wording on the 'Common Market' referendum (on which EVERYBODY proved he was wrong) he did let slip he didn't actually see the voting form as he was 8,000 miles away in Southern Ocean.

In fact, just checked it out. It's at 7:32pm Sun 9 Jan 11 and he says "like my self i was 8,000 miles away at a place called king edwards point, south georgia."

http://www.dailyecho
.co.uk/news/8779246.
Now_big_pay_cuts_loo
m_at____rival____cou
ncil/#commentsList

The Wickham Man says...
12:00pm Sat 29 Dec 12

When anyone asks the Redbridge Retard anything he can't answer his stock reply is always "It's in the Library". Oh really Southy? Which Library? Which book? Everyone knows you're lying and everyone knows who you are. Aren't you ashamed to be caught with your pants down so many times?

click2find

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