Scientists have made an extraordinary discovery deep beneath the Earth’s surface – microbes living and thriving in 2-billion-year-old rock. The finding pushes the boundaries of our understanding of life’s resilience and longevity.
Lead researcher Yohey Suzuki from the University of Tokyo is thrilled about the discovery, saying “We didn’t know if 2-billion-year-old rocks were habitable.” The team used advanced techniques to confirm that the microbes are indeed native to the rock and not contaminants. They found microbial cells densely packed into tiny cracks, sealed off by clay, creating a stable microenvironment.
The discovery is significant because it challenges our perceptions of survival and adaptation. These microbes are like living time capsules, offering a snapshot of life from eons ago. By studying them, scientists hope to uncover clues about the conditions on early Earth and how life managed to take hold.
The findings also raise interesting possibilities – could similar mechanisms be at play elsewhere, perhaps even on Mars? NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover is currently due to bring back rocks that are a similar age to those used in this study. The techniques perfected in this study could be instrumental in examining rock samples from other planets.
This discovery opens up new avenues for studying the early evolution of life on Earth and challenges our understanding of life’s ability to adapt. It suggests that life is incredibly tenacious and can find a way in even the most inhospitable places. As researchers continue to explore these ancient habitats, they may uncover answers about life beyond Earth.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/microbes-found-alive-sealed-inside-rock-after-2-billion-years