hidden World Beneath Our Feet: Scientists Discover Vast Underground ecosystem
Jakarta, Indonesia – A hidden world teeming with life exists far beneath the Earth’s surface, a newly revealed ecosystem harboring billions of microorganisms. This extraordinary discovery,dubbed the “Underground Galapagos” due too its remarkable biodiversity,suggests that the genetic wealth of life below ground may rival – or even surpass – that found on the surface.Researchers first began to quantify the scale of this subterranean life in 2018, presenting thier findings at the Annual Meeting of the American Geophysical Union. The results were astounding. A staggering 70% of the planet’s total microbial population resides underground, representing an estimated 15 to 23 billion tons of carbon – a biomass hundreds of times greater than that of all humans.
While exploration of this deep biosphere is still in its early stages, initial findings point to an astonishing genetic diversity. The ecosystem is largely dominated by bacteria and their relatives, Archaea, but also includes more complex life forms. Researchers have even identified unidentified nematodes thriving at depths exceeding 1.4 kilometers within a South African gold mine.
“Ten years ago,we were onyl sampling in a few locations – the kinds of places where we thought we’d find life,” explains Karen Lloyd,associate professor of microbiology at the University of Tennessee and lead author of the study.”Thanks to ultra-deep sampling,we now know we can find them almost everywhere,even though our sampling is only scratching the surface of the deep biosphere.”
This discovery underscores the vastness of the unknown and highlights the potential for further groundbreaking revelations about life on Earth. the “Underground Galapagos” promises to be a rich source of scientific inquiry for years to come, offering insights into the evolution of life and the limits of habitability.
Source: [https://inet.detik.com/science/d-8088426/ilmuwan-temukan-ekosistem-raksasa-jauh-di-bawah-permukaan-bumi](https://inet.detik.com/science/d-8088426/ilmuwan-temukan-ekosistem-raksasa-