Core Insights - A groundbreaking study published by the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry reveals that chemical energy released during crustal fractures can serve as an alternative fuel for underground microorganisms, potentially reshaping the understanding of deep Earth ecosystems and providing a basis for the concept of "dark life" on planets like Mars and Europa [1][2] Group 1: Research Findings - The research team simulated fracture activities at depths of several kilometers, demonstrating that the hydrogen gas produced during rock fractures is significantly higher than previously known processes, with a yield at least 100,000 times greater than serpentinization or radiolytic processes [1] - The coupling of hydrogen free radicals and hydrogen peroxide drives an iron oxidation-reduction cycle, continuously releasing electrons that flow between essential elements for life, forming an invisible "underground grid" that microorganisms can utilize without photosynthesis [1] Group 2: Implications for Extraterrestrial Life - Calculations indicate that earthquakes can generate a hydrogen flux of up to 737.2 moles per square meter annually, providing energy that far exceeds the needs of microbial communities, allowing for rapid growth and reproduction [2] - This energy mechanism may also occur in ancient fault lines on Mars or in cracks in Europa's ice shell, potentially serving as a long-term "battery" for "dark life" in the solar system [2] - Future extraterrestrial life detection missions should focus on searching for redox signals near fracture zones, which may indicate the presence of life [2]
中国科学家研究发现 地壳断裂瞬间释放的化学能成为地下微生物的“阳光替身”
Yang Shi Xin Wen·2025-07-20 06:21