Living to be 90 is fairly remarkable for a human — but bacteria has set a new bar for themselves after scientists discovered a strain of bacteria in Death Valley that is 34,000 years old.
Brian Schubert found the bacteria, which has remained in virtual, ├óΓé¼┼ôsuspended animation├óΓé¼┬¥ inside of salt crystals. Brian says “[The bacteria is] not doing anything at all except maintaining [itself].”
The bacteria is essentially trapped inside salt crystals, which create sealed-off enclosures when they come in contact with something while they form.
So basically the secret to living a long time is to encapsulate yourself in salt. LOL!
[Image via Brian Schubert.]
Jan 17, 2011 12:30pm PDT
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