BBC Nature: ‘Brinicle’ ice finger of death filmed in Antarctic 1

A bizarre underwater “icicle of death” has been filmed by a BBC crew.

With timelapse cameras, specialists recorded salt water being excluded from the sea ice and sinking.

The temperature of this sinking brine, which was well below 0C, caused the water to freeze in an icy sheath around it.

Where the so-called “brinicle” met the sea bed, a web of ice formed that froze everything it touched, including sea urchins and starfish.

The unusual phenomenon was filmed for the first time by cameramen Hugh Miller and Doug Anderson for the BBC One series Frozen Planet. More…

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Emperor penguin on beach in New Zealand

‘Happy feet’ penguin returns to Antarctica Reply

(FP Photo Above/HO/Department of Conservation NZ)

A lost penguin is getting a lift home to Antarctica on a New Zealand research vessel.

FIGHTING FIT AND cheeky as ever, the world’s most famous emperor penguin is set to leave Kiwi captivity for his Antarctic home. Happy Feet captured the world’s attention in June when he washed up on a beach north of Wellington, more than 3000km from home.

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