The research, published in The ISME Journal, was carried out by scientists at McGill University. Using advanced genomic methods and cutting-edge single-cell microbiology techniques, they were able to analyze the metabolism of new microbes.

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• Lost Hammer Bow in Nunavut one of the saltiest and coldest terrestrial resourcesdiscovered today.
• The water that rises to the surface from the 600-metre layer of permafrost is extremely salty, has a constant minus temperature, and contains almost no oxygen.
• The very high salt concentration prevents the spring from freezing, allowing it to maintain a liquid aquatic environment even at sub-zero temperatures.
• These conditions are similar to those observed in parts of Mars where cold salt water sources are possible.

Lost Hammer Spring / Photo: Elise Magnuson

Researchers show for the first time that microbial communities found in such conditions can survive by feeding and inhaling simple inorganic compounds of the same species found on Mars. methane, sulfate, sulfur, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. They can also capture nitrogen gases from the atmosphere, making them well adapted for survival.

It took several years of sediment work before we could successfully identify active microbial communities. The salinity of the environment interferes with both the removal and sequencing of microbes, so it was gratifying when we were able to find evidence of active microbial communities.
— explains Elise Magnuson, one of the study’s authors.

In total, the team isolated and sequenced the DNA of around 110 microorganisms, many of which had never been seen before. These genomes allowed the team to determine how such creatures survive and thrive in this uniquely extreme environment. they do not need organic matter or oxygen to survive.

The European Space Agency was interested in the expedition, choosing several samples from the Lost Hammer to test whether the equipment on the future ExoMars mission would respond to them.