From Deep Blue Mud, Unexpected Life Emerges
11 days ago
- #Mariana Trench
- #extremophiles
- #deep-sea microbes
- The deep sea is a challenging environment with darkness, low temperatures, high pressures, and scarce nutrients.
- Microbial life thrives beneath the seafloor, accounting for an estimated 15% of Earth's living biomass.
- Researchers discovered microbial life in sediment cores from mud volcanoes near the Mariana Trench, in highly alkaline conditions (pH 12).
- The microbes found in these extreme conditions could provide insights into the origins of life on Earth.
- The study detected both living and ancient microbial populations through lipid analysis in the sediment cores.
- These extremophiles may help scientists understand how life could exist in similarly harsh environments beyond Earth.