Most people think of life as something that exists on the surface of our planet.
We see plants, animals, and bacteria all around us. But deep underground, miles beneath the land and ocean, a different kind of world exists.
Scientists have been exploring this hidden realm, uncovering an astonishing variety of microbes that survive in extreme conditions, writes WP.
Their discoveries could change how we think about life on Earth and beyond.
A research team led by Emil Ruff from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the U.S. and Isabella Hrabe de Angelis from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Germany has spent years mapping underground microbial life.
They collected samples from more than 50 locations, including caves, deep-sea vents, mines, and aquifers. Their findings were published in Science Advances.
A Hidden World Beneath Our Feet
The researchers found life as deep as 491 meters below the ocean floor and over 4.3 kilometers beneath land. These microbes thrive without sunlight.
They endure extreme pressure, high temperatures, and limited nutrients. Instead of using photosynthesis like plants, they rely on energy from chemical reactions involving hydrogen, methane, and sulfur.
Some even use radioactivity as an energy source. One of the most surprising discoveries was how diverse these underground life forms are.
Scientists expected fewer species in such harsh environments. Instead, they found an incredible variety of microbes. In total, they identified over 31,000 unique groups of archaea and more than 377,000 types of bacteria.
Some underground environments were as rich in life as tropical forests or coral reefs.
Life in Slow Motion
Time moves differently for these organisms. Without much energy, they grow and reproduce at an incredibly slow pace.
Some bacteria divide only once every 1,000 years. Their entire metabolism is designed for efficiency. This unique adaptation could offer insights into aging and survival strategies.
Could Life Exist Underground on Other Planets?
These discoveries raise interesting questions about life beyond Earth. If microbes can thrive deep below our planet’s surface, the same could be true on other worlds.
Scientists searching for life on Mars and other planets usually focus on the surface. But based on what we now know, the best place to look might be deep underground.
