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."

Comments

Re:Living under surface

[Philomage]

Gentlemen, we cannot afford to allow a mineshaft gap!

Re:Living under surface

[LordLimecat]

You feel like financing this project? And setting up contingincies for things like "there is a leak and the pacific is starting to seep in"? And dealing with the phenomenal pressures that will be exerted?

Re:Living under surface

[hedwards]

While we're not running out of room, at least in most parts of the world, we are running the risk of running out of food and clean water. Space doesn't do you a damned bit of good if you haven't got food and water.

Anti-oil (was Re:Ergo oil)

[DragonWriter]

Ergo the oil argument that much of our oil supply is made from bacteria and not old dinosaurs. If the bacteria is supplied from the crust inside the earth, the oil fields can replenish and oil becomes much more sustainable than before.

You seem to miss the part where TFA notes that bacteria found deep in the crust degrade the hydrocarbons, which are produced by abiotic processes. That's pretty much the opposite of having an oil supply made from bacteria.

Re:Living under surface

[Ellis D. Tripp]

Indian tribes own 3% of petroleum and gas reserves in the USA and 15% of coal.

Sure. Until the day comes that Uncle Sam or one of his corporate owners wants them. Then their "ownership" will be respected about as well as all the other treaties have been over the last few hundred years....