If you think you’ve seen all the strange content the internet has to offer, prepare for this seemingly bottomless hole leading into the unknown. While we often assume Earth is fully understood, that’s far from reality. Despite our focus on exploring outer space, our own planet still conceals many mysteries.
People might not have realized how unusual Earth can be until recent discoveries beneath Antarctica. Now, you’ll see it too. Researchers lowered a camera into a 305-foot hole under Antarctica, leading to an astonishing discovery.
Much of our knowledge about this icy region comes from studying ancient ice sheets, which contain clues to Earth’s past. Though parts of the ice melt and refreeze yearly, some layers are hundreds of meters thick and have remained frozen for centuries.
These layers hold valuable insights into Earth’s history. A viral TikTok video revealed eerie, deep-blue footage from beneath the ice, shared by Austin, a researcher with the Center for Old Ice Exploration (COLDEX), during a 2022 expedition. The video shows an action camera being lowered into one of the deep boreholes used to gather ice samples.
As the camera dropped 93 meters, it captured a surreal, mesmerizing descent through the icy tunnel. The footage opens with Carter, another researcher, waving goodbye as the camera begins its journey, making the narrow, vertical shaft feel almost otherworldly—like a high-speed ride down a narrow chute. The video quickly drew attention, sparking numerous comments on TikTok.
One viewer remarked, “Honestly, this was really scary,” while another questioned, “Much respect, but why? Why spend so much time and money studying old ice?” Research from COLDEX and similar projects offers crucial knowledge about Earth’s ancient climate. Ice samples taken from different depths provide insights into past warming and cooling trends.
With climate change as a pressing concern, this research could help improve predictions of global warming’s effects, particularly on these ancient ice sheets.