Robot gives rare glimpse under Antarctic sea ice

This undated handout photo received from the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) on December 21, 2016, shows a scientist preparing an underwater camera at O'Brien Bay near Australia's Antarctic Casey research station. -AFP/ Australian Antarctic Division

SYDNEY: An underwater robot has captured a rare glimpse beneath the Antarctic sea ice, revealing a colourful world filled with coconut-shaped sponges, dandelion-like worms, pink algae and spidery starfish.

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) took footage on a camera attached to a Remotely Operated Vehicle sent down by scientists through a small hole drilled in the ice as they recorded the acidity, oxygen, salinity and temperature of the seawater.