Ancient Ecosystems

Microorganisms that have evolved to survive without oxygen or light have been discovered in a pocket of water isolated under deep Antarctic ice.  The discovery provides further evidence that life could exist on other planets with extereme conditions.  DNA tests reveal that the bacteria was once related to bacteria found above the ice, but over the course of millions of years, its evolution diverged. Harvard's Ann Pearson says "It's a bit like finding a forest that nobody has seen for 1.5 million tyears."

Image: "Lamberttributary_desktop" by RemusShepherd on Flickr courtesy of Creative Commons Licensing.

Story via The Daily Grail