Life on Earth's final frontier

Alan Boyle — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:02:31 GMT

I meant to include some additional comment from Chris McKay at NASA. McKay said he was intrigued by the fact that one species of bacteria dominates its ecological niche so completely:

"Perhaps this is not unexpected. In truly extreme environments, where life is right up against the edge of survival, it is often the case that only one species is found at the edge.

"Examples:

• Treeline. As one goes up a mountain one finds that the trees suddenly stop. Usually there is just one species of tree at the limit even if the lower forest has many different species.

• Translucent stones. There are typically layers of cyanobacteria under translucent stones in deserts. In relatively wet deserts there may be several species of cyanobacteria living under the stones. As one moves to more arid deserts, one species can survive and the others cannot, so this becomes the sole species in extreme dry deserts.

"Perhaps it is a general principle that one species will be the best survivor and thus will define the edge."

Life on Earth's final frontier

richard plettenberg — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:26:00 GMT

why don't the send a monkey up to mars and see how he does. Let him be the test!

Life on Earth's final frontier

Ed R, Miami Florida — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:32:02 GMT

The article does not mention waste products produced by the bacteria. I'm curious as to whether this species could be genetically modified to assist with terraforming Mars. I had always expected modified lichens at the poles to be the primary terraforming species but a bacteria that produces useful biproducts could be as useful or moreso.

Life on Earth's final frontier

Lisa Logan, Lake Stevens, WA — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:33:30 GMT

Thanks, Alan. Your add on is as fascinating as your article. I have seen the treeline but didn't grasp what it was/is. I look at it now with new appreciation.

Life on Earth's final frontier

Marek, Toronto, ON — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:01:44 GMT

What's the size range of an individual organizm?

Life on Earth's final frontier

rradiko, Columbus, OH — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:17:50 GMT

When we go to places like Mars or Europa to find evidence of life, show up at the wettest spots, and break out your shovel, a microscope and a videocam. Robots are nice but there's no beating the physical presence of human beings to research what's going on down (or up) there.

Life on Earth's final frontier

Ken, Naples, FL — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:52:03 GMT

There seems to be a general opinion that life originated once from one perfect set of circumstances. Why could it not have originated more than once, under a range of circumstances. Maybe on the surface and deep below. Who is to say it only originated once; maybe origination is still occurring and D. audaxviator is a relative newcomer.

Life on Earth's final frontier

Vladimir Kopylov , Moscow — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:13:29 GMT

Dear colleagues!
I am very glad to a finding of a new bacterium. If high properties of stability to radiation will be found out in it (and these properties should be!, if this bacterium is found out in uranium mine Kopylov, V. M., Bonch-Osmolovskaya, E. A., Svetlichnyi, V. A., Miroshnicheko, M. L. & Skobkin, V. S. (1993). Gamma-irradiation resistance and UV-sensitivity of extremely thermophilic archaebacteria and eubacteria. Mikrobiologiya 62, 90–95.).I hope will come true my prediction to search for a life on other planets in places with a high radiating level, instead of "to collect" samples on success.
With the best regards to everyone who spends this very interesting work,
Vladimir Kopylov (v_kopylov@mail.ru)

Life on Earth's final frontier

BARBARA BROWN,CHULA VISTA,CA 91910 — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:16:45 GMT

HELLO,
A GREAT ARTICLE .WOULD THIS NEW DISCOVERY BE ENTERED
TO THE EXTREMES CATEGORY WE NOW KNOW ABOUT AS WELL?

Life on Earth's final frontier

M.S.D, Dayton,Oh — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:03:19 GMT

Sad to hear that this lifeform is only millions of years old. Sounds like surface conditions and lifeforms are responsible for this bacteria. I am starting to think life on earth is "defining the edge". Living on the treeline sound very boring.

Life on Earth's final frontier

Kurt Steinbacher — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:17:34 GMT

Has anyone compared these to the "fossils" found on Martian meteorites a few years ago? Are they roughly the same size and shape?

[ALAN ADDS: Kurt, the "nanofossils" seen on the Mars meteorite are much smaller. In fact, one of the reasons for skeptics to think that they are chemical rather than biological formations is that they are so small it's hard to imagine useful genetic information being contained in them.]

Life on Earth's final frontier

cody klein, newton. ks — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:59:12 GMT

I believe in this bactieria.

Life on Earth's final frontier

Eric, Salinas, CA — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:05:14 GMT

Life is more tenacious and adapting than we've given it credit for in the past as we find bacteria living in places we never would have thought possible. I would not be surprised if we find ancient signs of life on Mars and possibly on some moons that have water.

Life on Earth's final frontier

Mark Wakely, Lombard, Illinois — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:16:43 GMT

I agree with Ed R about the possibility of terraforming Mars with organisms from Earth, but first we need to determine if Mars is truly a dead world or if it harbors its own unique form(s) of life, possibly sheltered underground. If Mars teams with organisms, then identifying, analyzing and maintaining colonies of those life forms is paramount before we introduce Earth organisms to Mars. (Assuming we haven't inadvertently contaminated Mars already with all the probes we’ve sent. None of the probes we’ve sent- not even the billion dollar Vikings- were 100% sterilized.) Besides possibly answering the monumental question if life ever started anywhere other than on Earth, discovery of a Martian organism(s) might also prove or disprove panspermia, the theory that life can spread between worlds. (A Martian organism that contained genetic traces identical to organisms on Earth would bolster the panspermia theory. A Martian organism unlike anything on Earth would bolster the theory that Earth isn’t the only cradle of life.) There is also the danger (however slight) that Martian life could prove to be deadly to Earthly life- human or otherwise- which would need to be determined before any terraforming efforts on our part. It does no good to try to terraform a world inherently toxic to ourselves or the plants we need to grow on Mars to maintain human colonies. We don't have a method for first sterilizing Mars if it does contain deadly organisms, and there are ethical considerations for not having one. The best scenario of all would be that Martian life is thoroughly benign and unaffected by our terraforming efforts. If Mars is dead, however, then terraforming faces fewer hurdles before it could begin.

Life on Earth's final frontier

Dan Galletti, Eastlake, Ohio — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:24:22 GMT

Has there been any thought into studying this bacteria for 1. The Twenty Amino Acids it can produce instead of us only being able to produce 10? If those genes could be convayed into other organisims, that could provide a better food source for all mankind as well as future space travelers on the moon, mars and beyond.
2. The repair mechanisims inside this bacteria for handling radiation damage to it's DNA and celluar machinery. If it lives off radioactive byproducts it must have a well developed repair system for handling DNA mutations and damage. Also the possiblity exists for again convaying these genes into other bacteria that could be used to clean up Superfund sites. etc.
Just some thoughts

Life on Earth's final frontier

Michael Angove, Herndon, VA — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:24:29 GMT

quote: "Life is more tenacious and adapting than we've given it credit for in the past...I would not be surprised if we find ancient signs of life on Mars and possibly on some moons that have water."

Why is it that the discovery of microbial life in Earth's extreme environments immediately gets interpreted as support for alien life? It would seem to me that the opposite is true. Life on Earth is so abundant that we should expect it to "seep" (through extreme adaptation measures such as shown by Desulforudis audaxviator) into even the most inhospitible "edge" environments, much like water seeps into the bedrock surrounding a lake.

But why should we expect these types of "edge" organisms on (e.g.,) Mars--where there was clearly never any "lake" of life in the first place? It could just as well be that these sorts of hyper-adapted organisms are the *result* of the ubiquity of life on Earth...not the *cause* of it.

Life on Earth's final frontier

David, Scurry, TX — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:27:04 GMT

I would be interested to how radioactive rocks affect the bacterium. Does it absorb any of the radioctivity and use it for energy? Basically can it be used to breakdown radioactive material?

[ALAN ADDS: I should make clear that the bacterium itself does not use the radioactivity. Instead, trace amounts of radioactive uranium in the rocks "recharge the batteries" by sparking chemical changes that result in hydrogen and sulfates used for energy by the microbe.]

Life on Earth's final frontier

Andy Cano, P.G., Pasadena, CA — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:51:09 GMT

Deep earth bacteria have been known to exist since the 1950s. See Halbouty and desulfovibrio desulfuricans. They have been found in salt diapirs in Louisiana and texas. They survive at high temperatures and pressures, use petroleum as food and can even lay dormant for years. There are some variants who can tolerate some oxygen. This fad of calling things new is pretty ridiculous along with the faddish term of "extremophiles." Somebody didn't do their periodical library search.

[ALAN ADDS: Yes, there are plenty of extremophiles, including the radiation-hardened champion Deinococcus radiodurans ... I guess the distinction here (at least according to the folks I've talked with) is that this microbe is totally self-sufficient and does not depend on any energy sources produced directly or indirectly by sunlight (such as petroleum, unless you side with the "endless oil" hypothesis for the geological origin of petroleum).]

Life on Earth's final frontier

Guy S. Newell — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:23:56 GMT

If we discover surface water on Mars, then we'd need a wetlands permit from the EPA before we could start terra forming. Introducing an invasive forgein species into the Martian eco system would be just our speed, however. Not satified with destroying one planet, we are already devising cheap and easy ways to do it to another. Maybe we should require universities to start teaching ethics along with physics and chemistry.

Life on Earth's final frontier

Will Calvin, Muncie, IN — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:18:33 GMT

What degrees of radioactive material does this bacteria break down? Is using them to break down radioactive waste too much?

Life on Earth's final frontier

Kelly Draham, Ann Arbor, Michigan — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:25:35 GMT

In my opinion, researching this stuff is a waste of time and money. Instead of looking at bacteria that lived millions of years ago and reasearching if there is any bacteria on Mars (because it's obviously no threat to our planet), why don't you spend time researching things to help us now and in the future? You're all obsessed and lost in the past!

Life on Earth's final frontier

Hillbilly — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:36:18 GMT

Things that are old provide us with insight to how life works in the present. To take the attitude that only the immediate or current problems are important means that you could lose out on solutions provided in a manner that no one expected. So Kelly, you need to be less selfish and look around, ask yourself why you expect everyone to be focused on your problems.

Life on Earth's final frontier

John Doe, Seattle, Wash. — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:52:23 GMT

Because it's their passion. Scientists quest for understanding. At the rate people are treating each other and the planet presently, I doubt any amount of research would help us now or in the future. If you feel so strongly about it, why don't you research things to improve the present and future conditions instead of sitting back and criticizing others for it?

Life on Earth's final frontier

Joanna L., Columbus, OH — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:04:03 GMT

To: Kelly Draham, I think just by reading others' comments so far, you should be able to see how researching such bacteria actually has very real and very valuable applications to us now and in the future.

Life on Earth's final frontier

Steve, NY,NY — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:16:32 GMT

It seems as though many of the people who posted on here either didn't read all of the article, or just didn't understand what it was about. The main point is that they've discovered an organism that could survive almost indefinitely with only slightly radioactive rock with a little bit of water. In theory it could survive the Earth blowing up because it doesn't need the byproducts of any other organisms chemical processes.
M.S.D. - The species isn't only millions of years old, its probably billions. But they have evidence that states it's survived in those rocks by itself for at least 3 million years.
Michael Angove - Yes, they are definitely the result of extreme adaptation, but its important because it pushes the boundaries of what we know that life can adapt to. It gives us more places to look for life elsewhere.
Kelly - It's not from the past, its alive today, and as in Dan Galleti's post knowing HOW it survives in a place we thought impossible will give us avenues of research "to help now and in the future".

Life on Earth's final frontier

N, Milan, Lombardia — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:19:12 GMT

To whom ever send lets send the monkey, Why don't we send you instead you seem to be less moral than a monkey. I think you will do nicely :-)

I can understand scientific curiosity, I am curious hence I read articles such as these, which are very interesting but all I can say is that I wish people would tread more catiously in the name of science.

I am not an animal activist or a green piece weirdo but it seems to me the only resource we aren't running out of is stupidity and people. I apologize if this sounds like a rant but it really disturbs me when people suggest just placing a random bacteria that one barely knows anything about on a planet.

Would it not be better to create some kind of chamber or alternate Mars in a controlled lab environment and then test the bacterias performance there???? Just to get a rough idea of what your dealing with?

This bacteria is probably not used to co-existing with any other life form, this may have been an inadvertent occurrence (as some previous posts have mentioned, example 'The Tree line' but it could also be that species such as these become dominating and create an imbalance in other eco systems...Ever heard the phrase let sleeping dogs lie?

How about starting one's research with how this thing could negatively affect an alternate environment, first instead of how it could better it.

Let's face it, there have been enough inventions, medications and god knows what else that everyone has embraced and then found that they were harmful in the long run.

Life on Earth's final frontier

Andrew& KatherineToth Central Falls R.I. — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:08:29 GMT

Dear Sirs; I wish to comment on the so-called tree-line conjecture (please check definition of) .
My wife and I have spent 36 years in Bolivia as missionaries and during that time had the oppurtunity to do our educational activity in geographical areas as low as 500ft asl in the Beni region of northern Bolivia to altitudes of 9,000 ft. Cochabamba-12,000 ft.La Paz-15,000-Potosi'-. While living in these areas we visited a number of moutains-Tunari-Taquina in Cochabamba over 17,000 (double peaks with their legends) -El Cumbre-15,000+Illimani-20,000+ ft.in La Paz( they have their legends also. I could go on and give data ..
The point is that at different elevations one finds different so-called "tree-lines" ....!!!!
We personally investagated these "tree-lines" and if you would go up a few feet above them you would find new plants (trees) growing in the crevices ..!!!!
I wish to present the observation that the so-called treeline" is not ---that the trees are still working their way up the mountain!!!
Acase in point;;;;about 150 years ago a certain German educator-botanist Brought to Bolivia some saplings and seeds of the "eucalyptus" trees from either New Zealand or Australia To protect the city of La Paz from erosion....You will now find these trees all over Bolivia at all altitudes -!!!I have seen some over fifty to sixty feet high and still growing at altitudes of 12,000-14,000-15,000 ft.!!!
Irest my case....Sorry for being so long -winded ...
Just a foot-note I personally Dr.Linndeman daughter
38 years ago(she was 90 years old at the time0 She was working in her father's greenhouse and nursery stillworking with diferrent varieties of eucalyptus
etc.

Life on Earth's final frontier

James, Oakland, CA — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:46:46 GMT

Ken from Naples hit it on the nail. Today's scientist are not equiped to think "outside the box" and seem to be limited, due to non-integration between between different fields(understandably so, in order to become experts in their field). However there seems to be a dogma that limits their theories that reminds me of the church like doctrine of the past. They don't take into account the grander picture and combine different sciences together when researching the possibility of life outside of earth. The earth is flat and there is no life outside of earth mentality. LOL

Life on Earth's final frontier

wilton,Elbert, CO. — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 02:30:04 GMT

Verrrry interesting! Aside from the pure science "satisfaction" that results from this and other findings, i derive a great deal of pleasure speculating about the origins and biological/chemical mutations that may have contributed to this tough little bacterial beastie. Possible use of or modification of this bit of life material is radiation detoxification/breakdown of our our own nuclear waste sites.But, I'd be just ss interested in knowing how that weak a radiation level csn break down water and desulfinate it to be a viable food source. If it can withstand these extremes of pressure, temperature, and low levels of radiation, I wonder what other toxic substances or extremes it has also become innured to? Would it not be a good candidate, after further toxicity studies,etc., for purposeful gene modification trials with gene spicing technology? To see if it could be adapted for use in protecting humans, and other mamals, from many of the environmental stresses that are proving toxic to our search for a long and healthy life span. Worth a lot more to me, in that context, than the gold that came out of the S.Aftican mine at such exhorbinant cost.