Alive...after 250 million years

[Christa]

Ancient bacteria trapped in a state of suspended animation for 250 million years are the world's oldest living things, claim US scientists.

The microbes are ten times older than any previously discovered living organism and may reopen the debate about the origins of life on Earth.

The bacteria were found in salt crystals buried almost 609 metres (2,000 feet) below ground at a cavern in south-east New Mexico, US.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/978774.stm

[derby378]

1. Okay, NOW I'm awake!

:wow:

[TlalocW]

2. Well, heck

And I didn't get them a card. :(

TlalocW

[BlueJazz]

5. Good One !

:rofl:

[hobbit709]

3. And they're more evolved than the repukes.

[tekisui]

4. The stories they could tell!

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. There are many who think there are way too many zeroes there.

I can just see "I can see Russia from my house" now - fingers in ears - "I can't hear you! Men walked with Dinosaurs! Can't be true! Nah Nah Nah!"

[CoffeeCat]

7. Wow...

...they look so good for their age!

[moggie]

8. 250,000,008

That article is over eight years old! Cool, though. I hope they've been able to sequence DNA from the bacteria, which could teach us a lot.

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. Eight years, huh?

Isn't that about when we first heard about Avian Flu?

[TZ]

10. Whats that got to do with anything?

As a biologist I can assure you H5N1 has been "known" for more than eight years.:eyes:

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. Relax - just a tinfoil hat joke. nt

[Angleae]

12. I'd hate to see that birthday cake.

[Nihil]

13. The candles on it have just blown the carbon budget of a small nation ...

:crazy:

[Angleae]

14. And can be see from outer space.

:P