Saturday, February 18 , 2017 - 23:33 (EET) Section: Montreal Gazette (Canada)
By Seth Borenstein
BOSTON — In a Mexican cave system so beautiful and hot it is called both Fairyland and hell, scientists have discovered life trapped in crystals that could be 50,000 years old.
The bizarre and ancient microbes were found dormant in caves in Naica, Mexico, and were able to exist by living on minerals such as iron and manganese, said Penelope Boston, head of NASA’s Astrobiology Institute. .
“It’s super life,” said Boston, who presented the discovery Friday at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Boston.
If confirmed, the find is yet another example of how microbes can
Source: Montreal Gazette
Saturday, February 18 , 2017 - 23:33 (EET) Section: Montreal Gazette (Canada)
By Seth Borenstein
BOSTON — In a Mexican cave system so beautiful and hot it is called both Fairyland and hell, scientists have discovered life trapped in crystals that could be 50,000 years old.
The bizarre and ancient microbes were found dormant in caves in Naica, Mexico, and were able to exist by living on minerals such as iron and manganese, said Penelope Boston, head of NASA’s Astrobiology Institute. .
“It’s super life,” said Boston, who presented the discovery Friday at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Boston.
If confirmed, the find is yet another example of how microbes can
Source: Montreal Gazette
