First evidence of methane-producing microbes living outside of the deep sea

A team of scientists report in a new study that they have found evidence of hardy, methane-producing microbes in water that surfaces from deep underground at The Cedars, a set of freshwater springs in Sonoma County.
It is the first time scientists have proven that these kinds of methane-producing microbes, which thrive in harsh environments, live anywhere outside of the deep sea. The new finding could offer clues into how early microbes could have lived on Earth billions of years ago and if they might be present on other planets like Mars, according to scientists in the field.
The new study also shows the newly-discovered microbes are likely capable of using carbon dioxide to produce methane – a finding that could have implications for future carbon sequestration projects.

https://news.agu.org/press-release/...thane-producing-microbes-in-california-rocks/