Lichens(?) and bacteria coat the interior of a lava tube in Hawaii. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lrargerich/ / CC BY 2.0
Life on Earth is everywhere, from pores in rocks miles beneath the surface to tiny cloud particles floating high above. Here’s another example of life turning up in a spot we’d not previously suspected: cave mineral deposits. Turns out the colorful encrustations are sometimes raw bacterial sewage. Pretty sewage, though!
Cave bacteria are often actinomycetes, which were so named because they actually branch (yes, some bacteria can branch!) and make spores similar to fungi. They’re also part of the crowd responsible for that wonderful earthy/cavey smell I mentioned a few posts ago. Actinomycetes are great at making competing-bacteria repellent, aka antibiotics. You might have heard of a few: actinomycin and streptomycin.
This came out in November but I’d been saving this slide show for a fun Friday eye-candy treat. Enjoy!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Beautiful!
I have “Go spelunking in a major cave” on my bucket list. In my dreams, that is Lechuguilla, but wikipedia suggests the access is pretty restricted there.
It’s difficult, but not, perhaps, impossible to see Lechuguilla (unless they close all U.S. caves soon as they might because of White Nose). Just get to know your local caving community — the Colorado Grotto is in Denver, but there are other smaller ones (I’m in the NCG). They can definitely take you to some pretty amazing caves around here, even if they’re not Lechuguilla. I speak from experience . . . I’ve been in about seven caves in CO/WY in the last 4 years. There are plenty of spectacular things to see. Also, I’ve heard Carlsbad Caverns leads caving trips for the public. Don’t give up on that dream! : )
Don’t forget about Colorado’s own home-grown, cave extremeophiles.
Check out this article.
http://www.steamboatmagazine.com/articles/257.php
Keep up the great work.
Thanks
Fred