When These Researchers Dug A Hole In Antarctica, They Didn’t Expect to Discover This Ancient Lifeform

Antarctic Treaty System

The Antarctic Treaty System was signed on December 1, 1959, by 12 countries whose researchers had been involved in studies in and around Antarctica. Since then, the agreement has expanded to 54 countries.

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The most important provisions of the treaty were: 1) Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only; 2) Freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica and cooperation toward that end…shall continue; 3) Scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be exchanged and made freely available.