A new research study published in the journal Geology by geologists from the Geological Society of America has said they will crack open an 830-Million-Year-Old crystal with potential life in it.
Geologists aim to break open an 830-million-year-old crystal to see if it contains ancient living microorganisms.
The findings on the rock salt crystal were initially published in the journal Geology (pdf given below) by scientists from the Geological Society of America earlier this month. Organic substances are floating inside the rock salt, also known as halite, according to the researchers, and the organic matter appears to be prokaryotes and algal cells.
"This discovery shows that microorganisms from saline depositional environments can remain well preserved in halite for hundreds of millions of years and can be detected in situ with optical methods alone. This study has implications for the search for life in both terrestrial and extraterrestria...