Microbial Life Thrives in Earth's Driest Desert

A groundbreaking technique reveals diverse active microbes in the Atacama Desert, challenging assumptions about life's resilience.

Researchers have discovered living microbes in Chile's Atacama Desert, one of the planet's most arid environments.
A new DNA separation technique allows scientists to distinguish between living and dead microbial genetic material.
The study identified diverse microbial communities, including Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, in the harsh desert conditions.
Chloroflexota bacteria were found to dominate in the most active microbial communities, suggesting constant genetic turnover.
This research offers insights into microbial survival in extreme environments, with potential applications for studying other planets.