[Geology2] 34,000-Year-Old Bacteria Discovered...And It's Still Alive

34,000-year-old bacteria: The microbes were discovered in trapped inside tiny bubbles in salt crystals buried in Death Valley, in a state of suspended animation.

By Andrea Mustain, OurAmazingPlanet Staff Writer / January 13, 2011

It's a tale that has all the trappings of a cult 1960s sci-fi movie: Scientists bring back ancient salt crystals, dug up from deep below Death Valley for climate research. The sparkling crystals are carefully packed away until, years later, a young, unknown researcher takes a second look at the 34,000-year-old crystals and discovers, trapped inside, something strange. Something … alive.

Thankfully this story doesn't end with the destruction of the human race, but with a satisfied scientist finishing his Ph.D.

"It was actually a very big surprise to me," said Brian Schubert, who discovered ancient bacteria living within tiny, fluid-filled chambers inside the salt crystals.

<SNIP>

View entire article here: http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/0113/34-000-year-old-bacteria-discovered-and-it-s-still-alive

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