![Uncharted Alien-Like Lagoons Discovered in Argentina Desert! Are These Stromatolites a Glimpse into Earth’s Ancient Past or a Clue to Martian Life?” Uncharted Alien-Like Lagoons Discovered in Argentina Desert! Are These Stromatolites a Glimpse into Earth’s Ancient Past or a Clue to Martian Life?”](https://americannewstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1-8.png)
In the remote reaches of the Argentine desert, situated at an elevation exceeding 12,000 feet, and where no roads traverse, scientists have stumbled upon an uncharted realm previously unknown to science.
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Atop the salt-laden plains of the Puna de Argentina Desert Atacama plateau, there exists a network of emerald-hued lagoons hosting expansive bacterial communities known as stromatolites. These stromatolites give rise to layered mounds as they proliferate. This distinctive ecosystem provides a glimpse into Earth’s ancient past, potentially resembling the conditions billions of years ago when primitive life forms first emerged on our planet.
Argentina Desert
Geologist Brian Hynek, part of the team that uncovered this elusive ecosystem, expressed his awe, stating, “This lagoon could be one of the best modern examples of the earliest signs of life on Earth. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen or, really, like anything any scientist has ever seen.”
The accompanying drone footage Argentina Desert offers a captivating view of these mysterious lagoons and the thriving life within them.
Stromatolites, such as the fossilized structures discovered in Marble Bar, Western Australia, dating back 3.45 billion years, provide some of the oldest evidence of terrestrial life. During that ancient era, cyanobacteria, photosynthesizing microbes, constructed these layered formations. It wasn’t until much later, around 2.5 billion years ago, that significant amounts of oxygen from cyanobacteria appeared in Earth’s atmosphere.
Moreover, the newfound environment may offer insights into the past conditions of the Red Planet. Brian Hynek speculates that Mars, in its earlier existence, might have resembled this temperate, aqueous world with lakes and rivers.
“It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen or, really, like anything any scientist has ever seen.”
Hynek envisions that if life evolved on Mars to the point of fossilization, it could have resembled the discovered ecosystem. Understanding these contemporary Earth communities could guide future searches for similar features in Martian rocks.
The discovery of these enigmatic lagoons remained concealed from modern scientists, discovered only when researchers identified subtle indications on satellite images while staying in a small high desert village with a population of 35. They navigated as far as the roads would take them and then proceeded on foot, ultimately reaching the verdant bodies of water. Hynek described the challenging terrain, noting, “In some places, we were sinking up to our knees in salt slush.”