Strange brine pools have been discovered in the deep waters of the Red Sea, which could explain how life appeared on Earth as well as on other planets.
Brine pools are one of the most extreme environments on Earth, but despite their high salinity, exotic chemistry, and complete lack of oxygen, these pools are teeming with life. Researchers at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences recently discovered rare brine pools deep in the Gulf of Aqaba, a northern extension of the Red Sea. These underwater salt lakes hold secrets about how Earth’s oceans formed millions of years ago and offer clues to life on other planets.
The researchers found these pools at a depth of 1,770 meters using a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) from the OceanXplorer vessel, a highly equipped marine research vessel capable of exploring the most inaccessible places on Earth.
“Until we know the limits of life on Earth, it will be difficult to determine whether alien planets can host anything living,” said researcher Sam Purkis. “Our discovery of a rich community of microbes that survive in extreme environments could help map the boundaries of life on Earth and could apply to the search for life elsewhere in our solar system and beyond.”
Previously, bioactive molecules with possible anticancer properties had been isolated from microbes in the brine pools of the Red Sea. The research, published in Earth and Environment Communicationsis the first discovery of brine pools in the Gulf of Aqaba.
Located close to shore, these extremely salty, oxygen-free pools preserve information about tsunamis, flash floods and earthquakes that occurred in the Gulf of Aqaba thousands of years ago. In this area of ​​the Gulf of Aqaba there are many faults and fractures in the sea floor associated with the region’s tectonics.
Earlier this year, Purkis and his team discovered evidence of a 500-year-old undersea landslide that likely triggered a major tsunami in the region, which could have implications for coastal development in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
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Discovery of the deep-sea NEOM brine pools in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea
Photo: Ocean X