Scientists have discovered a tiny species, previously unknown on Earth, that likely also exists on alien ocean worlds.
According to the Space newspaper“monster” little named Feathered Sulfurimonasbelongs to a family of mysterious creatures that until now known only from craters on the bottom of Earth’s oceans.
Its terrestrial counterparts often live in “suffocating” waters because they cannot tolerate high concentrations of oxygen, but this species appeared in oxygen-rich areas at the bottom of the oceans, where a hydrothermal system is located – says -we. “factory for life” planets.
The “lost city” that scientists have just discovered
The “lost city” that scientists have just discovered has characteristics similar to Europa and Enceladus, filled with living creatures – (Photo: NOAA).
Hydrothermal system at the bottom of the ocean Research has shown that prebiotic elements were brought together, reacting with temperature and other elements provided by this system, to create the most primitive organisms on the planet. This is thought to be similar to alien worlds that have oceans and features that allow hydrothermal systems to exist.
Europa and Enceladus, two destinations that NASA is preparing for direct life-hunting missions, also contain such oceans. So the creature was just found in what the research team called “lost city” – implying an overpopulated and forgotten world – it is possible that there are brothers living on these two mysterious moons.
“It’s incredibly exciting to see such microorganisms that are not only abundant but also very active.” – wrote Dr. Massimiliano Molari from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (Germany) in an e-mail to the Space journal.
A special genetic change gave this bacterial relative the ability to obtain energy from multiple sources. They multiply and live everywhere, on all terrains, in all conditions on the bottom of the deep oceans, including conditions similar to those that astronomers have found on alien worlds.
This is where streams of hot hydrogen are projected hundreds of meters into the air, and are gradually supplied with oxygen by mixing with the surrounding oxygen-rich seawater. Evidence of similar flows was recorded by NASA probes, such as the Saturn Casini probe, when it flew by the moon Enceladus.
Therefore, they will be useful test subjects to provide details on the types of creatures that future NASA ships should hunt on other planets and moons.
Article source: NLD
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Scientists have discovered a tiny species, previously unknown on Earth, that likely also exists on alien ocean worlds.
