Scientists to start drilling for the 'oldest ice in the world'

An ambitious project to begin drilling for the oldest ice in the world on the east Antarctica ice sheet has officially received the green signal and will start in December. The mission's aim is to provide a continuous record of the Earth's atmosphere and climate dating back to 1.5 million years. A 14-person team will go to Antarctica on the £11 million Beyond EPICA project, involving 14 institutions from ten countries, to begin drilling into the ice.