![]() ![]() Microbes from the brines of the Red Sea also seem to be very useful. Their range of applications is so wide that these molecules are seen as the future solutions on how to feed, fuel, and heal the world. We keep uncovering new ways that microbes impact our planet and all life on Earth.īecause microbes can grow in such unique conditions, those from extreme environments are often a source of valuable new molecules. The discovery of new microbes and the study of their abilities are always exciting. There are more microbes in our oceans than stars in the universe ! Yet, more than 99% of the total microbial diversity remains unexplored. Both microbes were observed with electron microscopy, a powerful technique in which a microscope uses electron beams instead of light to create an image (Image credits: A,B: Copyright © American Society for Microbiology C: Copyright © Springer ). (C) Salinisphaera shabanensis is another new bacterium found in deep-sea brine that is able to grow well in very different salinities. Haloplasma contractile is a newly discovered bacterium that can (A) contract and (B) relax its cells.Figure 2 - The deep-sea brines contain many exotic new species. ![]() Kebrit is also rich in sulfur and is very smelly-“kebrit” is the Arabic word for sulfur, which smells like rotten eggs. On the other extreme, Kebrit is the smallest (2.5 km 2), the coldest (23.3☌), and one of the youngest brines. Atlantis II is the biggest (over 80 km 2), the hottest (68.2☌), and one of the oldest brines. Each brine is unique due to differences in local geology, age, and differences in heating from the earth’s crust. Follow-up surveys discovered at least 25 different deep-sea brines scattered across the center of the Red Sea ( Figure 1). An Accidental Discoveryĭeep-sea brines were accidentally discovered in the 1950s, when researchers collected a deep-sea water sample that was much saltier and warmer than usual. Brines also have a lower pH than seawater and a higher temperature. In addition to higher salinity, brines have other differences from seawater: they have no oxygen and have higher amounts of metals and other elements. They even have waves across their surfaces and beaches at their rims. Because of this, deep-sea brines are very stable and look like underwater lakes. The high density of the brines and their sheltered location in the deeps prevents them from mixing with seawater. These brines are heavy, so they concentrate at the bottom of the sea and accumulate in the deeps formed by the oceanic crust. Salinity, which is the word for the measure of saltiness, can increase by up to 7-fold in the brines. The seawater dissolves some of the salt and becomes a brine, which is very salty water. The deposits were formed from the drying of a prehistoric ocean that existed in this area. The movement of the earth’s crust happening under the Red Sea exposes massive buried deposits of salt. As oceanic crust is denser than continental crust, these patches create deep spots called deeps (a deeper area or hole in the seafloor) and are scattered across the mid-section of the Red Sea. The gap left between these plates, which is in the middle of the Red Sea, is filled by patches of new oceanic crust. ![]() The Red Sea is growing because of the separation of the Arabian and African tectonic plates. In a few million years it will become a full-fledged ocean, like the Atlantic or the Pacific. The Red Sea is unique! It is growing by a few millimeters every year. What Are Deep-Sea Brines and How Are They Formed? These brines are also helpful for planning future space missions due to similarities with conditions on other planets and moons. The deep-sea brines could also aid us in looking for extraterrestrial life. These new molecules could be used for healing people or even cleaning up our planet. In addition to finding several new species, deep-sea brines are a source of useful new molecules produced by these organisms. The study of deep-sea brines and their inhabitants has several advantages. Despite such harsh conditions, several organisms still live in these brines. ![]() They have high salinity, high temperature, high pressure, and no oxygen. The deep-sea brines of the Red Sea are some of the most extreme environments on Earth. ![]()
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