Unexplainable
Intraterrestrials
Apr 2, 2025
Karen Lloyd, a microbiologist and author of "Intraterrestrials: Discovering the Strangest Life on Earth," discusses the remarkable life forms found in ocean mud that defy classification. She reveals how these so-called intraterrestrials survive for eons without reproduction and reshape our understanding of evolution. Lloyd highlights the tranquility of single-celled organisms in the deep sea and how their resilience poses intriguing questions about natural selection. This captivating journey explores the hidden microbial world and its mysteries.
26:23
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Quick takeaways
- Deep-sea microbes, termed intraterrestrials, showcase unique adaptations that challenge conventional beliefs about energy usage and survival in biology.
- The ability of these microbes to remain in suspended animation for millions of years raises intriguing questions about evolution and natural selection mechanisms.
Deep dives
The Intriguing World of Interterrestrial Microbes
Deep-sea microbes, described as intraterrestrials, provide a fascinating lens into life on Earth, showcasing organisms that diverged from familiar life forms billions of years ago. These microbes exist in a state of suspended animation, subsisting on minimal energy levels by utilizing resources available from their initial burial depths. Researchers have observed that these organisms live on energy amounts vastly lower than any known biological counterpart, raising questions about traditional biological assumptions regarding energy and survival. Their unique adaptations challenge our understanding of life, as they exhibit characteristics that seem 'alien' when compared to typical life forms.
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