Quote:
Originally posted by Sir Kenyth:
I think I've heard they may have discovered a few bacteria that live in geothermic and volcanic vents, but they are highly specialized and don't seem to thrive outside them.
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Just thought I'd let you know that they have discovered hundreds of species and entire ecosystems that pretty much cover every geo-thermal vent in the explored parts of the deep ocean (only about 1% explored). These organisms exist off bacteria which gain their energy from hot sulphur gas instead of the sun. These bacteria were first discovered in the late '70s and pretty much turned evolutionary science as it was understood at the time, on its head.
Since then, 1 new species of bacteria, or of a creature/plant entirely dependent on these bacteria (ie. they get no energy from the sun but from other sources) has been discovered on average every 10 days.
1 new species every 10 days!! Similar bacteria and ecosystems based on methane gas have also been found in the deep ocean. And we have barely begun exploring. It is these discoveries that lead me to believe that although the universe is finite according to modern science (alas not infinite) there is a good likelyhood of some form of life - since the sun or a similar star is not the only possible generator of the energy necessary for life it now seems.
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