Scientists have discovered an unknown living microbes.
In the Mexican cave found microorganisms that tens of thousands of years remain isolated within the crystals and at extreme temperatures.
On the finding, said Penelope Boston (Penelope Boston), who heads the Astrobiology Institute of NASA.
Crystals in the deep caves discovered microorganisms remaining in complete isolation for tens of thousands of years. Scientists are trying to learn how to cultivate them in the laboratory, recreating the extreme conditions of the dungeon. The report of this discovery was made at the meeting in Boston the annual meeting of the American Association for the advancement of science (AAAS).
Shaft Naik located in the state of Chihuahua in Northern Mexico. Here comes the mining of lead, zinc and silver ores. In the course of this activity, the Nike were discovered underground caves, containing only the large crystals of gypsum, some of the biggest on the planet. The length of some of them exceeds 10 meters. A rare find has attracted the attention of researchers. At the moment, they are working primarily in the Cave of crystals, located at a depth of about 300 meters.
The conditions here are extremely harsh: the average temperature is about 55 degrees Celsius, humidity exceeds 99 percent, have to wear oxygen masks (one of the workers who were trying to steal the crystals, gasped, and then the inside was closed to outsiders). In addition, the cave environment has high acidity, and, of course, here absolutely no light of the Sun. However, in the Cave of crystals discovered living microorganisms.
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