Scientists are interested in strange tunnels under African and Middle East leadership
In the deserts of Africa and the Middle East, scientists have discovered tiny tubes made by what seems to be alive.
In a press release, researchers Mainz from the University of Johannes Gutenberg, Germany, described their surprise when they discovered these strange tubular tunnels and limestones.
“We were surprised that he first found the tunnel in Namibia 15 years ago,” explains Cees Passchier, “because the tubes were obviously not the result of geological processes. ”
Posted in Journal of Geological BiologyPasschier and his colleagues described the strange physical properties of the weird tubes they discovered, first in Namibia and then in Saudi Arabia and Oman, both thousands of miles east.
These miniature explosions are usually about an inch long and about half a millimeter wide. Cut into rocks that scientists like Passchier have long studied, clusters in these tiny tunnels are exposed by erosion. When analyzed, the tubes showed a delicate calcium carbonate powder, which might be made from microorganisms drilled into the marble to obtain nutrients.
Although the current assumptions suggest something Life makes these weird little tubes in desert marble, and researchers are confused about what kind of organisms might be.
“We don’t know at this moment whether this is an extinct form of life or whether it’s still alive somewhere,” Passchier said in a press release.
Given that these mysterious structures are estimated to be around one to two million years, no matter which microorganism keeps them alive.
Although traces of calcium carbonate powder were found in these microbanks, no DNA or protein was left behind. Without more biological evidence, scientists will be unable to say clearly which type of small animals figured them out – although for Passchier, that’s what makes the discovery “so exciting.”
The German scientist pondered “Is this a known form of life, or a completely unknown organism?”
“This form of life, we don’t know if it still exists, may be important to the global carbon cycle,” he continued. “So the scientific community must be aware of this.”
More information about Weird Life: Scientists are confused by the enormous forms of ancient life
