I unfortuantely have limited internet access these days. Does anyone have any links to decent pages or articles on the subject of underground life: methanotrophic bacteria, extremophiles, the "deep hot biosphere"?

Whilst on the topic, who thinks that much - or most - of Earth's biomass resides far underground, independent of sunlight and oxygen? Might there be something down there more complex and interesting than bacteria? :cool:

Might there be something down there more complex and interesting than bacteria? :cool:

My ex always said that nothing is more interesting than bacteria (and archaea).

;)

There's more than bacteria in groundwater. Not that bacteria aren't interesting enough, but as long as there's oxygen you'd be surprised at the diverse fauna you find underground, with no light source for photosynthesis. Those ecosystems rely entirely on whatever organic matter is left in the water after being filtered out through rocks or the soil itself.

My ex always said that nothing is more interesting than bacteria (and archaea).


How about you, or... is this why she's your ex?

How about you, or... is this why she's your ex?

No, i'm a developmental biologist. These prokaryotes don't have developmental stages (well, not in the strict sense).

Whilst on the topic, who thinks that much - or most - of Earth's biomass resides far underground, independent of sunlight and oxygen? Might there be something down there more complex and interesting than bacteria? :cool:

I believe that more than 99% of earths biomass does not reside underground if thats any help :)

Then the biosphere we know isn't just the fringe of it all. That's reassuring.

I've always been fascinated by the concept that we have multiple worlds within one world. To the average person there is simply the surface world, but we also have an ocean with its own moutains and continents, as well as an underworld full of endless mystery and terror. Lastly, we have the sky, an ever-changing landscape. There is almost something mythological about it all.

Okay, that had no point here.

Have you read Arthur C. Clarke's short story "The Fires Within"? That describes a very different world concealed beneath our own.

No, what is it about? I couldn't find a good Google site on it.

The idea is that, 15 miles underground, is a biosphere - and a civilisation - based on partially degenerate matter. Creatures to whom the compressed rock is as insubstantial as water.

It's in Clarke's anthology "Of Time & Stars."