Beneath
the icy surface of a buried Antarctic lake, in super-salty water devoid of
light and oxygen that is also cold enough to freeze seawater, researchers have
now discovered that a diverse community of bacteria has survived for millennia.
The
findings shed light on the extreme limits at which life can live not just on
Earth, but possibly alien
worlds, scientists added.
Researchers
analyzed Lake Vida, which lies encapsulated within ice at least 60 feet (18
meters) beneath
Antarctica's surface. Past studies revealed the brine in the lake has been
isolated from the surface for at least 2,800 years.
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