Scientists complete first drilling task

Scientists on Tuesday completed the first drilling task of an expedition to the South China Sea. The hole, identifiedasU1499A,hasreached 3,770metersbelowsealevel, for the collection of sediment samples. A total of 33 scientists from China, the UnitedStates,Franceand othercountriesboardedthe US drilling ship JOIDES Resolution on Feb 8, and arrivedatthedrillingsiteon Tuesday last week.