Oldest Living Microbes Discovered in 2-Billion-Year-Old Rock

Microbes found in ancient South African rock may provide insights into early life on Earth and potential extraterrestrial life.

Researchers discovered living microbes within a 2-billion-year-old rock from the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa.
This finding significantly predates the previous record of living microbes in a 100-million-year-old ocean floor deposit.
Advanced imaging techniques confirmed the microbes' ancient origins and ruled out contamination during the study.
The Bushveld Igneous Complex's stable geological conditions have allowed these microbes to survive for billions of years.
This discovery could aid in the search for life on Mars, as similar aged rocks are expected to be brought back by NASA's Perseverance rover.