“Worms from hell” found below surface of Earth

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Life found deep under Earth surface

Extraterrestrial life (from the Latin words: extra (“beyond”, or “not of”) and‎ terrestris (“of or belonging to Earth”)) is defined as life that does not originate from Earth. Hypothetical forms of extraterrestrial life range from simple bacteria-like organisms to sapient beings far more advanced than humans. It is currently unknown whether any such forms of life exist or ever existed.

The development and testing of theories about extraterrestrial life is known as exobiology or astrobiology; the term astrobiology, however, also covers the study of life on Earth, viewed in its astronomical context. In this case it is life on Earth that gives rise to the theory of definite life on other planets. Here is the fascinating story:

Scientists have discovered the first complex creatures living a mile or more below the surface of the Earth, unlocking the possibility that similar organisms are elsewhere in the universe, the Washington Post reports. Researchers found the group of nematodes, or roundworms, in water flowing through several gold mines in South Africa. They’ve nicknamed the creatures the “worms from hell,” and likened the discovery to finding “Moby Dick in Lake Ontario.”

While nematodes have previously been found deep on the ocean floor, they’ve typically only been observed within 20 feet of the ground or ocean bed’s surface. The ramifications of this new development reach far beyond Earth: It means complex creatures could exist in similar environments previously thought uninhabitable—particularly below the surface of Mars. “What we found shows that harsh conditions do not necessarily exclude complexity,” a lead researcher says. “Evolution of Martian life might have continued underground.”

What do you think? Does the fact that this discovery of the “worms from hell” below the surface of the Earth make you think that life exists elsewhere.

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Professor Mike

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