Astronomy current events question: microbes living under Antarctic ice

Astronomy 210L, fall semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)

Louisiana State University press release, "Viable Microbial Ecosystem Confirmed 800 Meters Beneath Antarctic Ice," August 21, 2014
http://astrobiology.com/2014/08/viable-microbial-ecosystem-confirmed-800-meters-beneath-antarctic-ice.html

National Science Foundation funded researchers discovered life forms under the Antarctic ice sheet that may be similar to life on Mars, surviving by:
(A) harvesting energy from minerals.
(B) burrowing deep into volcanic vents.
(C) absorbing radioactivity.
(D) extreme hibernation.
(E) constructing protective shells.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 15 students
(B) : 9 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 9 students
(E) : 10 students