All articles tagged with #carlsbad caverns
Scientists exploring the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico discovered a bright green wall hosting cyanobacteria that photosynthesize with near-infrared light in complete darkness, showing life can thrive without visible light and offering new insights for detecting life on distant worlds and guiding astrobiology research.
Microbes in Carlsbad Caverns toes the line between geology and biology, as cyanobacteria living on cave walls photosynthesize using near-infrared light that human eyes can’t see; the reflected light concentrates far from entrances, suggesting life could persist in ultra-dark, light-limited environments and offering clues for detecting life on other worlds, potentially guiding NASA’s future research with the James Webb Space Telescope.