Scientists have revived new life forms that have been living inside giant crystals on Earth for up to 60,000 years. <\/p>\n
And now it is believed the discovery by NASA - in a cathedral-sized cave in Mexico - could be a hint of what life is like on Mars. <\/p>\n
The microbes have been found inside spiky crystals in the Naica Mine in Chihuahua, some of which stand at an incredible five-metres long. <\/p>\n
Shut off from light or oxygen, around 100 different bugs have been revived, 90 per cent of which have never been discovered before. <\/p>\n
The lifeforms have been found in a state of 'geolatency' - where living organisms remain viable in geological materials for long periods of time. <\/p>\n
The new discovery comes after scientists were always left baffled by images of the crystals alone - believing it to be a 'Photoshop hoax'. <\/p>\n
But the finding of the tiny bugs has now left the NASA team astounded, as it could be a hint of how life can survive on other planets. <\/p>\n
Describing the research project, Dr Penelope Boston, the director of NASAs Astrobiology Institute and leader of the project, said: \"It was a transformative experience it really felt strange. <\/p>\n
\"It was a very hard environment to work in, but tear-inducingly beautiful. Its like being inside a geode.\" <\/p>\n
The cave in which the discovery was made sits above a large pocked of volcanic magma, where temperatures can reach up to 60C. <\/p>\n
For this reason, astrobiologists have dubbed the cave as 'hell'. <\/p>\n
Most life could not survive there but scientists have discovered some organisms have evolved to feed on the sulphides, iron, manganese or copper oxide inside. <\/p>\n
\"They're really showing us what our kind of life can do in terms of manipulating materials,\" said Dr Boston. <\/p>\n
\"These guys are living in an environment where there's not organic food as we understand it. <\/p>\n
They're an example at very high temperatures of organisms making their living essentially by munching down inorganic minerals and compounds. <\/p>\n
\"This is maybe the deep history of our life here.\" <\/p>\n
Dr Boston says the team had to wear 'space suits' to protect them from the heat and allow them to breathe. <\/p>\n
\"That chamber is at the 800 metre level,\" she added. <\/p>\n
The deepest part we accessed (where the crystals were found) was a place called Hell, very evocatively.\" <\/p>\n
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NASA discovers 'hint of alien life' inside mysterious crystals from Mexican cave which scientists thought was ... - Mirror.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Scientists have revived new life forms that have been living inside giant crystals on Earth for up to 60,000 years. And now it is believed the discovery by NASA - in a cathedral-sized cave in Mexico - could be a hint of what life is like on Mars. Continue reading