BIOLOGISTS FIND WEIRD CAVE LIFE THAT MAY BE 50,000 YEARS OLD [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Feb 17, 5:36 PM EST

BY SETH BORENSTEIN
AP SCIENCE WRITER




BOSTON (AP) -- Scientists examining caves in Mexico have found life trapped in crystals that could be 50,000 years old.

Penelope Boston, head of NASA's Astrobiology Institute, on Friday announced the findings of bizarre and ancient microbes in caves in Nica, Mexico. Her team revived the dormant microbes and plans another genetic analysis of the find.

Boston says the creatures are like time machines and "super life."

If confirmed, the discovery is yet another example of how microbes can survive in extremely harsh conditions on Earth.

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