Antarctica is Earth’s southernmost continent where the geographic South Pole is located. The frozen desert is home to some 1,000 scientists who live in the blistering conditions that reach -90C at times, as they attempt to understand more about the history of Earth and climate change. On Sunday night, Attenborough – the legendary BBC presenter – took viewers to the South Pole for the first episode of his new series.
The 93-year-old revealed the icy continent is actually teeming with life, and there’s more than meets the eye at first.
He said: “The frozen surface of the sea hides a great secret.
“It may be hostile above the ice, but below it couldn’t be more different, conditions are so stable that life over millennia has had time to diversify.
“Creatures here grow to a great size, these predator worms are three metres in size.
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“But we’re only just beginning to discover the details of the lives of these strange creatures.”
The series took viewers through the busy waters, beaming with marine life.
Attenborough previously revealed why he is still making documentaries at his age.
He said: “We are now universal, our influence is everywhere.
“We have it in our hands to save the world, and we have made a tragic, desperate mess of it so far.”
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“Nations are coming together and recognising we all live on the same planet and we are dependent on it for every mouthful of food we eat and every breath of air we take.
“And making programmes like this, I’ve been doing it for a long time, and I’m sure a hell of a lot of young people are saying, ‘For God’s sake, why doesn’t he move over? Give another person a chance’, but, anyway, there I am.”
Attenborough revealed he still gets the same buzz from making documentaries and hopes it will inspire others.
He explained: “It is extraordinary.
“At the time people thought we were cranks but suddenly, after Blue Planet II, you hit the right note.
“I’m thrilled that we’re about to share this incredible series with the world.
“Seven Worlds, One Planet celebrates the variety of life on our planet while also shining a spotlight on its challenges.”
in 2010, NASA drilled into the ice and pushed a camera into a hole more than 600 feet below the West Antarctica Ice Sheet and spotted a small shrimp-like creature dancing around.
Bob Bindschadler of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre remembered the moment well, revealing: “We were like little kids huddling around, just oohing and aahing at this little creature swimming around and giving us a little show.
“It was the thrill of discovery that made us giddy, just totally unexpected.
“We thought we were just going into a deep, dark cold water hole and never anticipated we’d see any life.
“The colour was what caught our eyes.”
The complex critter was identified as a Lyssianasid amphipod, about three inches in length.