Scientists have discovered evidence of rock-eating microbes living nearly a mile beneath the ocean floor in conditions which suggest similar life could exist on Mars or other planets.
The work, by Oregon State University, is described in Science. Microbial fossils were found in core samples taken from under the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, Dr Martin R. Fisk, associate professor of oceanography, explained.
The rocks have everything necessary for life including carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen, with the only other requirement being water. "Under those conditions, microbes could live beneath any rocky planet," Dr Fisk suggested.
See William Reville column on this page.