Figure 1: As thermal water at 79.2°C reaches the surface, white calcium carbonate precipitates, forming a base for the proliferating red and green layered biofilms—woven bacterial mats (Illustration ...

Mounds of stromatolites flourish at the bottom of a lagoon in Argentina's Puna de Atacama. Studying satellite images of Argentina’s Puna de Atacama desert, CU Boulder geologist Brian Hynek noted ...

(CNN) — Scientists have discovered a previously hidden ecosystem with an expansive system of lagoons in the salt plains of Puna de Atacama, an arid plateau in Argentina — with giant stromatolites that ...

Boulder, Colo., USA: Stromatolites are the earliest geological record of life on Earth. These curious biotic structures are made of algae carpets growing toward the light and precipitating carbonates.

Billions of years ago, Earth was home to extreme environments, including intense UV radiation, frequent volcanic eruptions, and very high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Yet, under ...

The microbes, which appear to mimic early-stage life on Earth, could help scientists understand how life might form on other planets. Share on Facebook (opens in a new window) Share on X (opens in a ...