The Mysterious, Deep-Dwelling Microbes That Sculpt Our Planet
Microbes in Earth's crust, like Thiothrix and Gallionella species, are reshaping scientific understanding. Geomicrobiologists study these ancient, slow-reproducing microbes thriving in extreme conditions, revealing a hidden world influencing Earth's geology and life evolution.
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Deep within Earth's crust lies a world teeming with mysterious microbes that are reshaping our understanding of life on our planet. Scientists exploring the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota have encountered unique microbial communities thriving in extreme conditions, such as Thiothrix and Gallionella species, which transform rock and water deep underground. These intraterrestrial microbes, unlike their surface counterparts, are ancient, slow-reproducing, and capable of surviving without light or oxygen by breathing rock for energy. Geomicrobiologists like Magdalena Osburn are uncovering how these deep-dwelling microbes play a crucial role in shaping Earth's geology, cycling carbon and nutrients, and potentially influencing the evolution of life on our planet. This research challenges long-held assumptions about the barrenness of Earth's interior and suggests that subterranean life may be more abundant and diverse than previously thought. Through innovative exploration techniques in mines and deep underground environments, scientists are revealing a hidden world where microbial life thrives in unexpected ways, shedding light on the origins and resilience of life on Earth and beyond.
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2 commentsWikipedia has a photo of the Thiothrix fibers in an underwater cave: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beggiatoa#/media/File:Beggiato...
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