Microben puzzle: mysterious tubes discovered in deserts!

Microben puzzle: mysterious tubes discovered in deserts!

Scientists of University of Mainz report on a fascinating discovery in the desert regions of Namibia, Oman and Saudi Arabia. There they found references to unknown microorganisms in marble and limestone. The discovery published in the specialist magazine "Geomicrobiology Journal" could significantly expand understanding of microbial life in extreme environments.

The mysterious tubes that move into the picture in this discovery are about 0.5 millimeters wide and up to three centimeters long. They run parallel and form ligaments that are up to ten meters long. Professor Cees Paschier and his team have examined the structures more closely and come to the conclusion that they may have been drilled by microorganisms to obtain nutrients from the calcium carbonate of the marble. The tubes are dated around one to two million years old, while the first observations were made in Namibia 15 years ago.

unknown life forms and their meaning

Despite the biological materials found, it remains unclear whether they are known or unknown life forms. The researchers could not demonstrate DNA or proteins, which made it difficult to identify the microorganisms. The geologist Cee Paschier commented on the finds: "It is unclear whether it is extinct or living life forms." Nevertheless, the discoveries provide important information about biological diversity in extreme habitats.

An important aspect of researching these microorganisms is its potential role in the global carbon cycle. The structures are not the result of geological processes, which indicates that a biological component plays an important role here. 500 to 600 million years ago, the supercontinent Gondwana was created from old oceanic limescale, which also makes the time classification of these discoveries interesting.

link with current research

These discoveries are in the context of a broader research effort to analyze microorganisms in extreme environments. A team of the German GeoForschungszentrum GFZ recently developed a method that enables it to distinguish between living and dead microorganisms. This technique could also be applied to the recognition of the desert in the desert rocks. Your study shows that even in extreme conditions such as the Atacama desert, a large number of specialized microbes can survive.

The results of this research could not only provide new knowledge about extremophilic organisms, but also about their adaptation strategies and the conditions under which they can thrive. The discoveries in Namibia, Oman and Saudi Arabia are therefore not only of academic interest, but also have significant implications for understanding life under extreme conditions on earth.