Image: The DIVE (Drilling the Ivrea-Verbano zonE) sponsored by the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) started the scientific drilling in the site of Ornavasso in Val d’Ossola (Alps, Italy) on the Geodiversity International Day (October 6, 2022). The aim of the DIVE project is to investigate the architectural, chemical, and microbiological fingerprints of the continental lower crust and transition towards the lithospheric mantle. This research endeavour is led by a consortium of research institutions that also includes the Department of Geology at The University of Georgia. The Phase 1 of DIVE project consists of conducting scientific drilling in two sites, with retrieval of continuous 1-km rock core from each site. The first site in Ornavasso will be explore in Fall 2022 and the second site in Megolo will be explored starting from March 2023. This is an exciting research exploration to unravel the Moho transition zone, a geological frontier that has been elusive since the first scientific drilling enterprise of NSF-sponsored Mohole project in 1960’. At The University of Georgia, home of the national champion Georgia Football (Bulldogs), we say that DIVE has done a great touchdown for Earth Sciences today! Stay tuned with daily updates of the DIVE project are published here: https://www.icdp-online.org/projects/world/europe/ivrea-italy/daily-news/ For more information, ask to Mattia Pistone (one of the six PIs of the DIVE project) and refer to these weblinks: www.dive2ivrea.org https://www.icdp-online.org/index.php?id=2126&no_cache=1&label=ICDP-2020/04 https://www.icdp-online.org/projects/world/europe/ivrea-italy/details/ https://sd.copernicus.org/articles/23/47/2017/ Tags: DIVE, ICDP, Ornavasso in Val d’Ossola - Alps, Italy Drilling Rig by CSI s.r.l. (Italy). Picture taken by Luca Ziberna (University of Trieste, Italy), Italy-based PI of DIVE. Drilling Rig by CSI s.r.l. (Italy) with Dr. Andrew Greenwood (Austria-based PI of DIVE) for scale. Picture taken by Luca Ziberna (University of Trieste, Italy), Italy-based PI of DIVE. “Touchdown” of the rig on the top of the crystalline basement in Ornavasso (Alps, Italy). Picture taken by Luca Ziberna (University of Trieste, Italy), Italy-based PI of DIVE. Core