Unveiling the Hidden Microbial World in Deep Gold Mines
Scientists studying the deep subsurface biosphere have discovered a wealth of "microbial dark matter" deep within a gold mine in South Dakota. By sequencing microbial DNA from samples taken at the Deep Mine Microbial Observatory, researchers identified nearly 600 genomes from various microbial species. These organisms, often referred to as "minimalists" or "maximalists," have specialized jobs or the ability to utilize any available resource. The findings shed light on the vast and diverse world of microbial life beneath the Earth's surface and may have implications for the search for extraterrestrial life.