6. Fresh Life Emerges on Earth
Found Year: 2012 Estimated Value: N/A
The Bahamas’ “blue holes,” or underwater caverns, are becoming important research locations for the study of life’s evolution. Three inland blue holes were investigated by researchers, including Texas A&M University marine biologist Tom Iliffe, and each one revealed unique microbial life.
Earth’s New Life @atlasobscura/Pinterest
The depth, water layers, and oxygen levels all affected the different bacteria. “We’re finding new forms of life that are totally unknown elsewhere on Earth,” stated Iliffe. Each cave’s unique environment offers scientists information on possible evolutionary routes and adaptations. Known as “natural laboratories,” these blue holes provide a window into the strange realm of organisms that survive in harsh environments.