William Atkins
Sunday, 19 April 2009 19:20
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 3
National Science Foundation scientists find ancient microbes in Antarctica that live off iron and sulfur, without the need for oxygen, sunlight, or carbon. Scientists speculate that they could also live on other planets and moons in our Solar System.
The researchers include
Jill A. Mikucki,
Ann Pearson, David T. Johnston, Alexandra V. Turchyn, James Farquhar, Daniel P. Schrag, Ariel D. Anbar, John C. Priscu, and Peter A. Lee. Their study was sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
Their April 17, 2009 paper was published in Science under the title “
A Contemporary Microbially Maintained Subglacial Ferrous ‘Ocean’.”
The colony was thought to have been formed 1.5 to 4.0 million years ago when Taylor Glacier, an outlet glacier of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet encountered the ocean.
Scientists had known about a feature called “Blood Falls” that spills from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, one of the driest places in Antarctica. Average precipitation is less than four inches per year. It is next to frozen Lake Bonney.
The red-colored ice is stained by iron-rich water pouring out of sub-glacial lakes formed millions of years ago.
The water containing the microbes is not frozen because it is three to four times more salty than the ocean. Its temperature averages 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius).
A good picture of “Blood Falls” is found on the Fox News article “
Million-year –old microbe colony found under Antarctic ice.”
A bright red waterfall surrounded by white is something that is easily noticed.
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