Scientists have made an exciting discovery deep within a 2-billion-year-old rock from South Africa’s Bushveld Igneous Complex.
They found living microbes sealed inside the rock, making it the oldest known example of life surviving in ancient rock formations.
This discovery could offer new clues about the early evolution of life on Earth and provide important insights for the search for life on Mars.
The study, published in Microbial Ecology, confirms that these tiny organisms were not contaminated during the research process.
The team used three advanced imaging techniques—infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and fluorescent microscopy—to verify that the microbes were indigenous to the rock.
This breakthrough builds on previous work, pushing the boundaries of what we know about ancient life on Earth.
A Window Into Early Life on Earth
The rock, taken from the Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC), was formed when molten magma slowly cooled beneath the Earth’s surface.
The BIC, located in northeastern South Africa, is known for its rich ore deposits, including platinum. It is also one of the largest and most stable geological formations on Earth, covering an area roughly the size of Ireland.
Researchers obtained the rock sample with the help of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program.
They drilled about 15 meters below the surface to collect a 30-centimeter-long core. When the core was carefully examined, the scientists found microbes living in cracks within the rock.
The cracks were sealed with clay, preventing anything from entering or leaving the rock, which allowed the microbes to survive in this isolated environment for billions of years.
This discovery is significant because it shows that life can survive in extreme conditions over incredibly long periods. The microbes found in this rock provide a rare glimpse into what life on Earth may have looked like billions of years ago.
What this means for Mars exploration
Lead author of the study, Yohey Suzuki from the University of Tokyo, believes this discovery could have big implications for the search for life on Mars. Mars has much older rocks, between 3 and 4 billion years old, and researchers hope to find similar ancient life forms in the rocks brought back by NASA’s Perseverance rover.
While the possibility of finding living microbes on Mars is uncertain, the discovery of ancient life in Earth’s rocks is promising. By studying these 2-billion-year-old microbes, scientists can better understand how life could have survived in Mars’ harsh environment.
As Suzuki said, “This discovery gives me hope for what we might find in samples from Mars.” The search for ancient life beyond Earth continues, and this breakthrough brings scientists one step closer to answering the big question: Are we alone in the universe?
Source: University of Tokyo.
