Scientists Discover Living Microbes in 2-Billion-Year-Old Rock

This groundbreaking find in South Africa's Bushveld Igneous Complex could reshape our understanding of early life on Earth and beyond.

Researchers have identified living microbes in a 2-billion-year-old rock, the oldest known find of its kind.
The microbes were discovered in a sealed fracture of the Bushveld Igneous Complex, a mineral-rich area in northeastern South Africa.
Advanced imaging techniques confirmed the microbes are indigenous to the rock, ruling out contamination.
The discovery provides new insights into the slow evolution of microbes isolated from typical evolutionary pressures.
Scientists are excited about the implications for understanding early life on Earth and the potential for similar life on Mars.