SCI/TECH: Thawed 30,000 Year Old Germ May Point to Life on Mars

A tunnelling operation five years ago in the town of Fox, Alaska revealed something surprising - a type of bacteria that hasn't been seen on Earth since the Pleistocene Age. Not only were a significant number of these microscopic organisms discovered as workers bored through Alaksa's perrmafrost, but on thawing the samples, the Carnobacterium pleistocenium reanimated and began swimming around immediately. The reanimation of these organisms may point to a higher likelihood of life existing on Mars. Recent evidence from the red planet indicates that liquid water once flowed on its now-barren surface and that a large frozen body of water lies near its equator.



Liquid water is considered a necessity for any sort of life to exist. The recently discovered Martian sea is theorized to receive enough heat from the sun that its frozen state is periodically warmed below the surface to the degree that basic lifeforms could flourish.

With the evidence of Carnobacterium pleistocenium's ability to lie in suspended animation while frozen, scientists now speculate that similar organisms may lie waiting beneath the frozen surface of Mars.

"The other thing that's exciting: Just like we found in the Fox tunnel of Alaska, frozen biology in the form of unicellular bacteria might even have remained alive, frozen in the Martian sea," said NASA scientist Richard Hoover.


Related News Links:
www.newscientist.com
msnbc.msn.com

Hey, didn't we see this on an episode of "X-Files"?

Life is tough, tougher than many of us give it credit. And when the going gets tough, the tough wait to thaw out a few million years later.

Does this organism have any effect on plants or mammals?

Good find Banshee 30000 year old reanimated bacteria. That in itself sounds alien to me

This very good, I wonder sometimes about how long certain organisms can survived frozen but also what kind of nasty surprised we may find if our Arctic caps melt.

I remember on TV that spores can also live dormant for long periods of time in extreme weather.

Ok just one question. Is it possible for life NOT to exist on Mars? I mean what are the chances? There is probably some sort of bacteria on Jupiter too right even though its being burnt to a crisp? lol

I found this story extremely interesting. In a way, it begs the question, what in the world have we found. With the bacteria being ancient, could ancient parasites also be able to be reanimated? Of course that could even lead to "more" mysterious diseases appearing that we have no cure for.
Excellent story though.

In a way, it begs the question, what in the world have we found. With the bacteria being ancient, could ancient parasites also be able to be reanimated? Of course that could even lead to "more" mysterious diseases appearing that we have no cure for.

My thoughts exactly. Very interesting find just don't shake the petri dish. Bacteria frozen for that length of time springs to life after thaw one could bet these boogers are pretty hungry.

Originally posted by cheshire cat
Of course that could even lead to "more" mysterious diseases appearing that we have no cure for.
Excellent story though.

that is what i thought of first too.
great, they found a 30.000 years "germ" and now its ALIVE!

great find tho!


[edit on 28-2-2005 by Souljah]