MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean scientists after funds for Antarctic research

Chile's Institute of Antarctica (INACH) has proposed a US$4 million microorganism research project for the increasingly disputed Antarctica. If funding is approved, Chilean scientists can look forward to spending the next four years on the icy continent.

The scientists, led by INACH's José Retamales, want to explore the Antarctica's unique environment, which includes various kinds of bacteria, yeast and fungus that have not previously been exposed to climate conditions existing on the rest of the planet. Most microorganisms are living single-celled organisms invisible to the human eye. They help decompose the ecosystem by recycling other organisms' dead remains and waste products. They also aid in "cleaning" petroleum, as the bacteria eat the harmful components in petroleum. They live everywhere in the world where there is liquid water. Some are deadly, responsible for killing millions of people every year. Still, microorganisms are essential to the environment and the health of humans and they could have a valuable impact on the development of medicine. Compared to other countries, Chile's Antarctica exploration budget is a low US$4 million per year. This is especially surprising considering that Chile is one of only seven countries legally occupying the continent. The United States, which does not have its flag planted in the ice, spends US$260 million annually on Antarctic research. This could mean that even though Chile claims part of the penguin pole, the country could miss out on important scientific developments. Antarctica is something of a hotspot these days. Russia caused a stir Tuesday by claiming a piece of the white continent and seems set on exploring the rich natural resources hiding beneath the ice. The countries currently sharing the pole -Chile, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and France- were not pleased with Russia's decision to "plant its flag" in Antarctica. Russians believe the continent contains 51 billion tons of hydrocarbon, which, when processed, could produce oil. The Santiago Times