Newfound ocean bacteria could hold the key to finding extraterrestrial life

Scientists have made some fascinating discoveries in the world’s oceans. They have identified previously unknown bacterial species with unique features that allow them to survive in extreme environments.

Scientists now believe these bacteria could be the key to finding extraterrestrial life. They have found a new species of bacteria thriving in the plumes emanating from submarine hot springs located in the deep waters of Earth’s oceans.

This discovery has prompted astronomers to consider that similar hot springs might exist on other oceanic worlds, such as Europa, a moon of Jupiter, and Enceladus, a satellite of Saturn.

By studying these findings, astronomers hope to understand better the potential forms of extraterrestrial life that might exist on those moons.

Surprising newfound ocean bacteria could aid search for alien life https://t.co/yPx9MekcBH pic.twitter.com/6hG61dlAWh

— SPACE.com (@SPACEdotcom) March 19, 2023

What’s this Newfound Ocean Bacteria?

Sulfurimonas pluma is a recently discovered bacterium that belongs to a family of organisms. They were previously only found in volcanic vents on the seafloor of Earth.

These bacteria cannot survive in water with high oxygen levels. This made it unexpected for scientists to find a smaller variant of this family thriving in water plumes several hundred meters away from the vents and rich in oxygen.

One of the most interesting aspects of these newfound bacteria is their ability to metabolize methane. Methane is a gas usually present on Earth.

It is also a standard gas in the atmospheres of other planets. Scientists believe that the ability to metabolize methane could be a key indicator of extraterrestrial life.

In addition to their methane-metabolizing abilities, these newfound bacteria possess unique adaptations. These allow them to survive in highly low-oxygen environments.

This discovery is significant because many planets in our solar system, such as Mars, have low-oxygen environments. If life exists on these planets, it would likely need similar adaptations to survive.

Massimiliano Molari is a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Germany.

He spoke to Space.com in an email, saying, “It was a lot of excitement to see that these microorganisms were not only plentiful but also highly active in the plume.” 

The latest study, led by Molari, discovered that S. pluma had undergone distinct genetic modifications that enabled it to adjust and flourish in various oceanic settings.

These genetic modifications have allowed the bacterium to retrieve energy from many sources. This is the reason why it is abundant near hydrogen-rich areas on the seabed.

Why this Discovery is Important

Scientists discovered that bacteria primarily use hydrogen to grow and multiply abundantly. Molari commented, “This was never observed before in this environment.”

Chris German, a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution who was not a part of the study,  shared a detail with Space.com via email.

He said that the universal presence of this organism in the oceans “removes an intellectual barrier from our ability to conceive that something comparable could arise elsewhere in the solar system.”

In conclusion, the newfound ocean bacteria could be vital to finding extraterrestrial life. They have unique adaptations to extreme environments.

Some of these are their ability to metabolize methane and survive in low-oxygen environments. It makes them a valuable resource in the search for life beyond Earth.

Scientists continue to explore the mysteries of the ocean and the universe. We may one day find conclusive evidence of life beyond our planet.

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