Nitrospirota, a prevalent archaeal phylum in the terrestrial subsurface, includes species that oxidize ammonia and reduce it to nitrite, serving as a defense mechanism.
Ruff found it surprising that total microbial diversity increases with depth, despite the decreased energy availability, indicating complex adaptations to extreme environments.
Some microbes may have metabolism slow enough to take decades or centuries to divide, suggesting that similar life forms could exist on other planets like Mars.
Ruff emphasizes that understanding Earth’s deep life may serve as a crucial model for assessing the potential for life on Mars and its resilience.
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