Scientists peered into a secret Antarctic lake hidden beneath the ice — and uncovered a never-before-seen ecosystem

Antarctica 's Lake Enigma was until recently thought to be frozen solid.

But scientists have discovered a layer of fresh water hidden beneath the ice-covered surface.

Microorganisms cover the bottom of the lake in microbial mats known as microbial mats.

Many of these organisms are photosynthetic, giving the lake a high concentration of dissolved oxygen.

The lake's extreme ecosystem could offer insights into places where microbial life might be found on other worlds.