Speedy Antarctic drills start hunt for Earth's oldest ice

As the short Antarctic spring ends and long summer days approach, geo­scientists are flocking to the frozen continent to start a new kind of exploration.

In December, the first drill designed to search for a scientifically useful sample of ice that is at least 1.5 million years old will begin its work. It is part of a broader effort to locate the best place to extract a core containing Earth’s oldest ice, which would help to reveal how climate has shaped the planet’s past and how to predict future fluctuations.