Scientists have made a chilling discovery in the depths of the Red Sea.
Their find is so unique it could even help in space exploration, because it offers a rare glimpse into our undisturbed planet at the beginning of time.
They didn’t discover a new species, in fact rather the opposite – down in the sea inlet in the Indian Ocean, scientists found what they’re calling death pools.
In these salty chambers that go beyond the sea bed, life as we know it can’t exist because there’s no oxygen, so any unsuspecting creature that swims inside is immediately stunned or killed.
Professor Sam Purkis, chair of the Department of Marine Geosciences at the University of Miami, explained that knowing predators lurk near the death holes to “feed on the unlucky”.
He believes this discovery could aid in space exploration, because the inhospitable and undisturbed environment mimics life when it first appeared.
He said: “Our current understanding is that life originated on Earth in the deep sea, almost certainly in anoxic – without oxygen – conditions.
“Studying this community hence allows a glimpse into the sort of conditions where life first appeared on our planet, and might guide the search for life on other ‘water worlds’ in our solar system and beyond.”
The fact that these death pools are incompatible with living creatures means they have been well preserved, which could aid further discoveries.
He added: “Ordinarily, these animals bioturbate or churn up the seabed, disturbing the sediments that accumulate there. Not so with the brine pools. Here, any sedimentary layers that settle to the bed of the brine pool remain exquisitely intact.”
Only 5% of the world’s oceans have been explored or chartered by humans, and scientists predict there could be around 2 million more species yet to discover in the deep abyss.
Signs of life at depths more than 1,830 metres were first discovered in 1853, when Louis F. de Pourtales of the U.S. Coast Survey examined sounding operations.
