Chinese scientists have begun drilling a 10,000-metre or 32,808 feet hole into the Earth’s crust, as the world’s second largest economy explores new frontiers above and below the planet’s surface.
As per China's Xinhua News Agency, drilling for what is set to be China's deepest ever borehole began in country's oil-rich Xinjiang region on May 30.
The narrow shaft into the ground will penetrate more than 10 continental strata, or layers of rock, according to the report by the Chinese agency.
Chinese President Xi Jinping had called for greater progress in deep Earth exploration in a speech addressing some of the nation’s leading scientists in 2021.