Antarctica’s Lake Enigma, located between the Amorphous and Boulder Clay glaciers, regularly experiences temperatures around 7 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter months, that number can drop as low as -41 degrees.

An international team of polar researchers has found several types of microbiota living in the water below the frozen surface of Antarctica's Lake Enigma. In their study, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment,

What would you expect to find within a permanently frozen Antarctic lake? As if the name Lake Enigma wasn’t mysterious enough, polar scientists have just discovered unique microbial groups living their best lives beneath its icy surface.

Antarctica is a place of extremes. Its icy landscapes often hold secrets that challenge what we know about Earth’s history. Recently, scientists made a discovery there that could reshape our understanding of the planet’s past.