They found various nematode worms, as the heretofore unknown 'Halicephalobus mephisto' in a crevice formed by water inside a mine (Foto: Tomada de Latercera.com )
LONDON .- A team of scientists first detected in a mine in South Africa, multicellular organisms in the deeper layers of the terrestrial biosphere.
The study, published in the latest edition of the journal Nature, provides a new perspective on the richness and diversity of life on the planet's surface.
The biosphere below the crust reaches depths of up to three kilometers, and contains a extensive variety of unicellular organisms.
However, scientists thought that multicellular creatures could not live in this environment due to high temperatures, lack of oxygen and space that occur at great depths.
The study, published in the latest edition of the journal Nature, provides a new perspective on the richness and diversity of life on the planet's surface.
The biosphere below the crust reaches depths of up to three kilometers, and contains a extensive variety of unicellular organisms.
However, scientists thought that multicellular creatures could not live in this environment due to high temperatures, lack of oxygen and space that occur at great depths.
The team of geologist from Princeton University, USA, Tullis Onstott found various nematode worms, including a until now unknown species (called "Halicephalobus mephisto"), between 0.9 and 3.6 km below the surface in a crevice formed by water inside a mine.
These creatures, which are about half a millimeter, so they reproduce asexually and feed on bacteria.
The Carbon-14 tests indicate that the crack in the nematodes were found was formed between 3 thousand and 12 thousand years.
The research results indicate that the ecosystems on Earth's surface are more complex than what was accepted until now, and can lead to significant implications in the search for life on other planets.
These creatures, which are about half a millimeter, so they reproduce asexually and feed on bacteria.
The Carbon-14 tests indicate that the crack in the nematodes were found was formed between 3 thousand and 12 thousand years.
The research results indicate that the ecosystems on Earth's surface are more complex than what was accepted until now, and can lead to significant implications in the search for life on other planets.
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