Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

A Gigantic Crater Spanning 19 Miles Wide Was Just Discovered Under A Sheet Of Ice In Greenland

A Gigantic Crater Spanning 19 Miles Wide Was Just Discovered Under A Sheet Of Ice In Greenland
@NASA_ICE/Twitter

You just never know what's lurking underneath that ice!


Scientists have just discovered an enormous crater beneath the Hiawatha Glacier in Greenland. The crater is 19 miles wide and large enough that the entire cities of London, Paris or Washington, DC could be enveloped within its boundaries. How did it get there? Scientists have concluded that a massive asteroid--probably about a mile wide itself--bashed into Greenland to create the enormous depression.

Scientists have concluded the impact occurred sometime during the last Ice Age, an era known as the Pleistocene, that began 2.6 million years ago and ended 11,700 years ago. An exact date of impact hasn't been determined yet, but it could have been as recently as 12,000 years ago--just before humans became the "apex predator" of the Earth.

The crater is the first of its kind: "This is the first impact crater found beneath one of our planet's ice sheets," geologist Kurt Kjær, of the Center for GeoGenetics at the Natural History Museum of Denmark, wrote in the journal Science Advances, in which the report on the crater was published.

The crater was discovered while studying a map of Greenland's ice topography. The scientist then used a German research plan to perform "ice radar" imaging to get a better look. The imaging had all the hallmarks of an impact crater.

Scientists then returned to the site to map its rock structures and collect sediments from nearby meltwater. The sediments provided a smoking gun.

"Some of the quartz sand washed from the crater had planar deformation features indicative of a violent impact," Professor Nicolaj K. Larsen of Aarhus University said. "This is conclusive evidence that the depression beneath the Hiawatha Glacier is a meteorite crater."


NASA put out some very cool animations of how the crater was found:


On social media, people were enthralled by the discovery:








And, of course, it wouldn't be social media without jokes!





So what does it all mean? Scientists believe the crater could provide insight into the nature of the Ice Age climate. The next step in analyzing the site will be to decisively date the impact that created it. As Dr. Kjær put it, "Even though we have looked into the planet's surface so much, with every type of equipment, the Age of Discovery is not over yet."

Stay tuned, earthlings!

H/T New York Times, New York Post

More from News

Former coach Jim Zulio pulling player Hailey Monroe's hair
@CBS6 Albany/YouTube

High School Coach Fired After He's Caught On Camera Yanking Female Athlete's Ponytail

A Northville Central High School basketball coach was fired shortly after he yanked on a player's ponytail—and the whole incident was caught on camera.

The Falcons had just lost to Hudson Valley Community College, La Fargeville, and the Falcons were watching the winning team's players celebrating on the field.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk
Isaac Wasserman/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Musk's Dad Claims Elon Isn't Racist Due To Past Friendships With Family's 'Black Servants'

Tech billionaire Elon Musk's father, Errol Musk, argued there's no way his son could be racist due to his past relationships with the "black servants" who worked for the family in apartheid South Africa.

After the Tesla CEO faced scrutiny for criticizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Errol Musk was confronted by inquiries about his son's animosity toward the program.

Keep ReadingShow less
Teen getting haircut with a trimmer
Tatsiana Volkava/GettyImages

Arkansas GOP Ripped Over Bill Banning 'Gender-Nonconforming' Haircuts For Minors

Arkansas Republicans are being lambasted for introducing a bill that could punish people for supporting transgender youth's social transitions, such as the use of preferred names or pronouns, and giving gender-nonconforming haircuts.

House Bill 1668, the "Vulnerable Youth Protection Act," would allow minors and their parents to sue anyone who acknowledges another minor's gender identity.

Keep ReadingShow less
Fox News Host Suggests Tesla Vandals Could Face Death Penalty In Bonkers Interview
Fox News

Fox News Host Suggests Tesla Vandals Could Face Death Penalty In Bonkers Interview

Fox News host Harris Faulkner conjured up an outrageous hypothetical scenario in which vandals setting Tesla vehicles ablaze could receive the death penalty.

The series of attacks at Tesla dealerships and charging stations involving suspects lighting Teslas on fire are being viewed as a form of protest against Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sabrina Carpenter
Samir Hussein / Contributor/Getty Images

Video Of Paparazzi Shaming Sabrina Carpenter For Refusing To Take Photos Sparks Fan Outrage

While many people are openly envious of celebrities, they tend to forget that becoming a superstar does come with its fair share of challenges.

When your face is on billboards and screens all over the world, it is very easy to be recognized.

Keep ReadingShow less