Scientists discover life 'that shouldn't be there' under Antarctic ice sheet

In a surprising find, scientists have discovered immobile life forms under a 900 metre thick Antarctic ice shelf and say it is life that shouldn't be there.

The discovery comes after a team led by the British Antarctic Survey drilled through the Filchner-Ronne ice shelf and dropped a camera down the hole to search for mud on the sea bed.

To their surprise, they found a boulder with nearly 16 sponges, 22 unidentified animals including some that appear to be barnacles.

The creatures found, scientists said, likely survive on photosynthetic organisms that need sunlight which is missing beneath the ice shelf and that's the reason they shouldn't be here.

The findings suggest that life in Antarctica's harshest environment is more diverse and adaptable than previously thought. The scientists now hope to study the creatures in more detail.