A team of researchers led by Yohey Suzuki, an associate professor of earth and planetary science at the University of Tokyo, uncovered living microorganisms in a sealed fracture of 2-billion-year-old rock from South Africa. The rock specimen, obtained from the Bushveld Igneous Complex, was carefully analyzed using a specialized chemical that detected cells with DNA and proteins from microorganisms' cells. The finding suggests that living microbes have persisted within the rock for an extensive period.
The Bushveld Igneous Complex, believed to have formed 2 billion years ago, is a unique geological formation located in northeastern South Africa. The rock itself is over 7 kilometers thick and stretches across 500 km from east to west and 250 km from north to south. The research team, part of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP), meticulously examined a sample extracted from a depth of 15 meters to reach these groundbreaking conclusions. Suzuki and his colleagues ensured that the rock specimen was cleaned and sterilized to prevent contamination during the drilling and transfer processes.
The discovery of these ancient microorganisms within the 2-billion-year-old rock opens up possibilities for studying animal evolution and tracing evolutionary processes in greater detail. However, experts like Ken Takai from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology caution that while the DNA analysis of these microbes could provide valuable insights, pinpointing the exact era to which they belong remains a challenge. Reports of similar discoveries in different locations around the world indicate the potential for finding even older living microorganisms, sparking curiosity and further exploration in the field of microbiology.