South Africa Archives - Astrobiology

Rock description, contamination discrimination, and in situ microbial detection. a, b, Core sample under visible (a) and UV light (b), showing a crack (red arrowhead) made with a sterile hammer. Blue fluorescence indicates contamination on the edge. c, Broken surface under UV light showing contamination where blue fluorescence is visible only at the core edge (red arrowhead). d, Thin section (crossed polarizers) displaying orthopyroxene (opx), clinopyroxene (cpx), phlogopite (phl), and quartz. e, Prepared rock section with analytical points (yellow arrows). f–h, Fluorescence microscopy (SYBR Green I) of green regions, with analytical spots marked. i, O-PTIR spectra of the rock (colored squares) compared to control microorganisms (E. coli, N. aerobiophila, and M. sedula). -- biorxiv.org

Analog Studies, Astrochemistry, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Fossils & Paleontology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return, Status Report

Deep Microbial Colonization in 2-Billion-Year-Old Ultramafic Rock from the Bushveld Complex

by Keith CowingApril 16, 2026April 16, 2026

Archean cratons may provide stable microbial habitats in the deep subsurface, as evidenced by the discovery of billion-year-old crustal fluids.

By delving into ancient rock records, scientists have uncovered new clues that sharpen the timeline of Earth’s oxygenation—shedding fresh light on one of the most transformative chapters in our planet’s evolutionary story. Credit Benjamin Uveges

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Rock Record Illuminates Earth’s Oxygen History

by Keith CowingMay 30, 2025May 29, 2025

Several key moments in Earth’s history help us humans answer the question, “How did we get here?”

A team of geomicrobiologists walking to a sampling site in a South African gold mine. At this site almost 3 km deep beneath the surface, the researchers can access one of the deepest and oldest ecosystems on Earth. Credit: Emil Ruff

Analog Studies, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release, Sample Return

Journey to the Center of the Earth: The Search for Dark Oxygen

by Keith CowingJanuary 8, 2025January 8, 2025

By Emily Greenhalgh – The elevator ride down was quicker than he expected. South Africa has the deepest active mines on Earth. And MBL scientist Emil Ruff and an international […]

Characterization of a section from the fracture surface to the rock interior. A Photo of the section with a yellow arrow pointing to the fracture surface. B Microscopic image of a region of the section highlighted in a yellow rectangle in A. C Fluorescence microscopy image of the region highlighted by orange rectangle in B. Intensity maps of the section at 1000 cm−1 (D), 1530 cm−1 (E), and 1640 cm−1 (F) obtained by optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy. The intensity maps were obtained from the area highlighted with a yellow square in B. G RGB color synthesis of the three intensity maps. A yellow rectangle in G indicates an area where the intensity maps for RGB color synthesis are obtained in Fig. 5A -- Springer Nature

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return, Status Report

Subsurface Microbial Colonization at Mineral-Filled Veins in 2-Billion-Year-Old Mafic Rock from the Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa

by Keith CowingOctober 27, 2024October 27, 2024

Recent advances in subsurface microbiology have demonstrated the habitability of multi-million-year-old igneous rocks, despite the scarce energy supply from rock-water interactions.

This picture shows many tiny cells in which DNA is abundantly included inside the cells. First, the microbial cells were detected in fractures in the rock sample using an infrared imaging technique called O-PTIR spectroscopy. After that, they were stained with a green solution and analyzed using both a scanning electron microscope and then fluorescent microscopy. The combination of readings from these three imaging techniques enabled the researchers to confirm the indigenous and living microbial cells in the 2-billion-year-old rock fissure. -- University of Tokyo

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Fossils & Paleontology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release

A 2-billion-year-old Rock Is Home To Living Microbes

by Keith CowingOctober 4, 2024October 4, 2024

Pockets of microbes have been found living within a sealed fracture in 2-billion-year-old rock. The rock was excavated from the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa, an area known for […]

Location of Drill Sites (numbered photographs). Sites 3, 4A, 4B, and 4C are located within commercial plantations, Sites 5A and 5B on open grassland, Site 1 in the hairpin turn of a mining road. Site 2 next to a parking lot of the paved R40 road. -- (BASE – Barberton Archean Surface Environments)

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Fossils & Paleontology, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Microbiology & Virology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report

Operational Report: Drilling In The Moodies Group of the Barberton Greenstone Belt (BASE – Barberton Archean Surface Environments)

by Keith CowingJune 25, 2024June 25, 2024

The BASE (Barberton Archean Surface Environments) scientific drilling project focused on recovering unweathered continuous core through strata of the Paleoarchean Moodies Group (ca. 3.2 Ga), central Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB), […]

Water-rich Exoplanet Atmosphere -- NASA

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Earth Life Appeared on Land 1.5 billion Years Earlier Than Previously Thought

by Keith CowingNovember 29, 2000April 12, 2024

Evidence of life on Earth has been found as far back as 3.8 billion years. Given that the intense bombardment that accompanied the birth of the solar system only subsided […]