Could “blue holes” offer clues about the biology of extraterrestrials?

In the Bahamas ’ submerged inland cavern , or “ blue hollow , ” a tenuous layer of fresh water secernate oxygen from salt water . This create a submerged , oxygen - free surround that could resemble underground water pocket on Mars or the seas of Europa .

In the puritanic jam of the Bahamas , the anoxic salinity water supply supports ecosystems that are completely unique to individual cavern . This diversity and ability to flourish in aquatic , oxygen - free environments could offer insight into both Earth ’s other conditions and the anatomy of extraterrestrial life that could exist within our solar system . Says astrobiologist Jenn Macalady of Penn State ’s Department of Geosciences :

The universe is made of the same elements and inhabitable planet are likely to share many of the same characteristics , like a temperature range contributive to living and the presence of water [ … ] We study the DNA of germ from five inland risque holes and did n’t see any shared metal money [ … ] Some of these organisms use deception we used to think were chemically impossible [ … ] If we can understand precisely how these germ are form a life , we know what to look for on oxygen - barren earth .

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research worker eager to divine the geological and biological secrets of the dreary holes have a race against time on their hands . Rising sea point threaten to disrupt the hole ’ unique balance of salt and fresh urine . you’re able to say more about National Geographic ’s journey to the dismal hole ( include one name the Stargate!)here , and you’re able to see more of Wes Skiles photography from the expeditionhere .

Thanks to Merilyn Terrell atIntelligent Travelfor the head up !

The Cascade Room in Dan ’s Cave on Sawmill Island .

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