Extremophile Report
Microbes have been found deep beneath the Earth's surface. Researchers from Princeton University worked in the 2 mile deep gold mines in South Africa to probe the hot waters at the bottom of the mines. Although the researchers are uncertain at this point whether or not they have identified a unique life form, they do believe it to be a possibility. The organisms have been isolated from outside influences in their deep sub-surface environment for hundreds of millions of years. This suggests that the bacteria might be surviving the high pressure and temperature of the oxygen-free environment with a completely different kind of metabolism than we might have seen before. The scientists are aware that the microbes do exist in hydrogen-rich waters, and probably use a combination of hydrogen and sulfur for survival. Hydrogen gas permeates the water due to interaction with the large local deposits of uranium, which releases radioactive energy as it breaks down. The existence of such bacteria strengthens the cause for the search for life on Mars.
current science news posted by Kirsten at 12/13/2002 12:06:00 PM
Scientists
& Engineers for America
RSS
