More than a mile below the surface, our planet supports diverse creatures that could give us clues about life across the solar system
![nematode stalactite.jpg](https://thumbs-media.smithsonianmag.com/filer/0f/21/0f21656c-ce63-4f88-9742-342835834033/nematode_stalactite.jpg__800x600_q85_crop.jpg)
smithsonian.com
Ancient bacteria from nearly two miles below Earth's surface: that's what first drew Tullis Onstott
to begin his search for life in the most unlikely of places. The
geomicrobiologist had just attended a 1992 U.S. Department of Energy
meeting about rocks estimated to be more than 200 million years
old—older than most dinosaurs. These prehistoric rocks had been
unearthed from a gas exploration well, and they turned out to be teeming
with bacteria.
Read more at .... http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/inner-earth-teeming-exotic-forms-life-180958243/#E8bFL6yXrcSizIbc.99
Read more at .... http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/inner-earth-teeming-exotic-forms-life-180958243/#E8bFL6yXrcSizIbc.99