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Life Found In Deepest Layer of Earth's Crust

michaelmarshall writes "For the first time, life has been found in the gabbroic layer of the crust. The new biosphere is all bacteria, as you might expect, but they are different from the bacteria in the layers above; they mostly feed on hydrocarbons that are produced by abiotic reactions deep in the crust. It could mean that similar microbes are living even deeper, perhaps even in the mantle."

19 of 335 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Living under surface by Philomage · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gentlemen, we cannot afford to allow a mineshaft gap!

  2. Just proving the rule.... by Dexter+Herbivore · · Score: 2, Funny

    yet again, life is ubiquitous.

    1. Re:Just proving the rule.... by Defenestrar · · Score: 3, Funny

      I for one welcome our ubiquitous underlords

  3. have they named it yet? by circletimessquare · · Score: 4, Funny

    if not, it should be Bacillus Balrogus

    "The humans dug too greedily and deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of the Chilean copper mine... shadow and flame... and Bacillus Balrogus!"

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    1. Re:have they named it yet? by Shadow+Wrought · · Score: 2, Funny

      Far, far below the deepest delvings of the Dwarves, the world is gnawed by nameless things

      Glenn Beck?

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  4. Re:Ergo oil by AdamHaun · · Score: 3, Funny

    That doesn't do anything about global warming, though.

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  5. Re:Living under surface by Defenestrar · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's fastest with a diamond pick.

  6. Re:pervasive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    That sounds like a challange to me.

  7. Re:Ergo oil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wait a minute, these bacteria are feeding on hydrocarbons... they're not producing oil, they're eating it. Oil that rightfully belongs to us (and by us, I mean oil companies of course). Those bastards! I say we nuke them all. (The oil companies I mean, not the bacteria.)

  8. Re:pervasive by Sinning · · Score: 2, Funny

    Unless we're using it's hydrocarbon fuel supply to drive to Atlantic City every weekend to binge on hookers and blow.

  9. But did they find... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Menzoberranzan?

    Of course not, because if they had, they'd never come back.

  10. Re:Living under surface by ThatMegathronDude · · Score: 3, Funny

    s/Terrorist/Creeper

  11. Re:Living under surface by Nadaka · · Score: 3, Funny

    But if you dig too deep, you will release the clowns. Nothing says oops like busting through an adamantine cavern and finding yourself facing a spirit of fire.

  12. Re:Living under surface by Tr3vin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Our creepers are even worse.

  13. Re:Living under surface by PatPending · · Score: 3, Funny
    [Strangelove's plan for post-nuclear war survival involves living underground with a 10:1 female-to-male ratio]

    General "Buck" Turgidson: Doctor, you mentioned the ratio of ten women to each man. Now, wouldn't that necessitate the abandonment of the so-called monogamous sexual relationship, I mean, as far as men were concerned?

    Dr. Strangelove: Regrettably, yes. But it is, you know, a sacrifice required for the future of the human race. I hasten to add that since each man will be required to do prodigious service along these lines, the women will have to be selected for their sexual characteristics which will have to be of a highly stimulating nature.

    Ambassador de Sadesky: I must confess, you have an astonishingly good idea there, Doctor.

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  14. Re:Ergo oil by SlashDotDotDot · · Score: 2, Funny

    I used to really like the word "ergo". Now it just makes me think of the Architect from those fake Matrix sequels.

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    /...
  15. Re:Living under surface by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Plenty of us ./ers are living underground. It's called the basement.

  16. Re:Living under surface by Rockoon · · Score: 4, Funny

    Molecule slow-downer.

    --
    "His name was James Damore."
  17. Re:Living under surface by Chris+Burke · · Score: 2, Funny

    50 km under Kansas would still be Kansas.

    Ah, such charming naiveté, such amusing nonsense.

    50 km under Kansas would be Kansas, were it not actually Khan'saxz, empire of The Dusty Ancient One, who thankfully is content to rule the followers he crafted from nightmares given substance. Were you to dig down to those depths your life would surely be forfeit, if you were truly fortunate and did not instead lose your sanity and your soul.

    Just sayin'. Don't dig under Kansas. Bad idea.

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