Scientists have found bacteria at a depth of 125 m under the ocean

Researchers discovered bacteria in rock samples obtained in 2010 during the Program

integrated ocean drilling (IODP)— then the research vessel took samples inarea of ​​the tropical island of Tahiti. Using a metal pipe with a diameter of about 6.2 cm in diameter and a length of more than 5.7 km, scientists first reached the ocean floor and then drilled a hole 125 m deep below the bottom.

This allowed scientists to get to the underwatervolcanoes that spew lava at approximately 1.2 thousand ° C. Ultimately, the lava cools and turns into stone with many cracks. In core samples from one of these cracks, the researchers found bacteria.

Unicellular creatures turned out to be aerobicbacteria — in other words, they use a process similar to how human cells generate energy by relying on oxygen and organic nutrients.

Clay minerals filling cracks indeep ocean rocks are similar to minerals that can be found in rocks on the surface of Mars, the researchers write. Studying them is likely to find living bacteria on the Red Planet - or at least their remains.

Previously, scientists suspected Martian moleculesbiogenic origin. Thiophenes, organic compounds discovered on the Red Planet by the Curiosity rover, could be formed as a result of bacterial activity.