Ancient Microbes Found in Icy Lake Vida

[Karlis]

Ancient Microbes Found Living Beneath the Icy Surface of Antarctic Lake

Antarctica's Lake Vida, the largest of several unique lakes found in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, contains no oxygen, is mostly frozen and possesses the highest nitrous oxide levels of any natural water body on Earth. A briny liquid that is approximately six times saltier than seawater percolates throughout the icy environment that has an average temperature of minus 13.5 degrees centigrade (or 8 degrees Fahrenheit).

Despite the very cold, dark and isolated nature of the habitat, the report finds that the brine harbors a surprisingly diverse and abundant assemblage of bacteria that survive without a present-day source of energy from the sun.

Source

[Grandpa Greenman]

Cool, life is everywhere.

[Skeptic Chicken]

So, no tentacle beasties?

[sergeantflynn]

Life doesn`t just SURVIVE there . It flourishes . It is their environment .

[CuriousGreek]

The world will know more important discoveries as for this issue in the future i believe

[xYlvax]

Very cool.. -sits and waits for more

[bison]

Remarkable that life can exist, even flourish in these conditions. Perhaps an interesting coincidence that news of this should come out within a week of an anticipated presentation about another very cold, nearly oxygenless environment, on Mars, and the possibility that it may harbor simple forms of life, too.

[JGirl]

wow! that's amazing

[Sundew]

The article states the lake has the highest nitrous oxide level of any body of water on earth. So then, these are happy little organisms!

[pestilent0ne]

So what is the possibility that as the ice melts new microbes and bacteria being introduced into our population causing new illnesses such as say morgellons or other unknown caused illnesses?

[Skeptic Chicken]

So what is the possibility that as the ice melts new microbes and bacteria being introduced into our population causing new illnesses such as say morgellons or other unknown caused illnesses?

Well, we'd have to wonder if they'd survive in temperature higher than that of their home-lake. Some bacterias go to sleep in freezing temperatures, which is why mould doesn't grow on frozen things, then they thrive in warm temperatures. I'd presume that it's vice versa for these ones that they just discovered. Thrive in cold, and sluggish in warmth.

[Lava_Lady]

Well, we'd have to wonder if they'd survive in temperature higher than that of their home-lake. Some bacterias go to sleep in freezing temperatures, which is why mould doesn't grow on frozen things, then they thrive in warm temperatures. I'd presume that it's vice versa for these ones that they just discovered. Thrive in cold, and sluggish in warmth.

Perhaps initially that's true but, what if they they begin to acclimate to the warmer environment and start to mutate?!

Hideous monstrosities will begin to roam the earth! At first, sightings will be rare and classified as Cryptozoological or more commonly referred to as the "Gullible wack job" files.

Then their numbers will grow until they can no longer be denied and then the terror begins!!!

Wet Willies, wedgies, invasions of personal space, that irritating mocking thing kids do sometimes... Havoc will be wreaked!!

Or we may be mildly annoyed... I don't know, we'll have to wait and see.

[Idano]

The article states the lake has the highest nitrous oxide level of any body of water on earth. So then, these are happy little organisms!

....and happy little researchers!