Imagine a place where glaciers meet volcanic steam, creating a landscape so alien it might as well be another planet. Welcome to Deception Island —a fiery Antarctic volcano that scientists say could hold answers about life on Mars!
This horseshoe-shaped island in the South Shetland Islands isn’t just Instagram-worthy . Its active volcano lets ships sail straight into its caldera (yes, really!), offering researchers a natural laboratory to study extreme environments.
Why Mars? The icy, volcanic terrain mimics conditions scientists believe existed on the Red Planet billions of years ago. \"It’s like a sci-fi movie set, but real,\" says one researcher. Teams are analyzing microbes here to understand how life could survive—or once survived—on Mars.
Pro tip for travelers : While you’d need a spacesuit for Mars, Deception Island’s geothermal beaches might just be the *coolest* (and warmest?) spot in Antarctica!
Reference(s):
Ice and fire: Antarctic volcano may hold clues to life on Mars
cgtn.com