ARIZONA NEWS

UA scientists discover new microorganisms in Kartchner Caverns

Dec 10, 2013, 5:00 AM | Updated: 5:00 am

PHOENIX — You might have seen the 2005 horror film “The Cave,” where a group of adventurous scientists explore the deep, nether regions of a cave and discover a new species. University of Arizona scientists have done exactly that. An entire ecosystem of microorganisms has been discovered living beneath the desert in Kartchner Caverns in southern Arizona.

“I think every time that we go into a unique environment and try to figure out how it works, we learn a new dimension of what microbes can do and how they can survive,” said Julie Neilson, a UA associate researcher.

The ability to survive in the darkness of the Kartchner Caverns — which, Neilson said, has rooms the size of football fields, with ceilings as high as 30 feet — helps scientists understand how life could survive on other planets.

“Learning how microorganisms can find a way to survive in almost any environment on this planet,” she said. “And each time some group of scientists explores a new ecosystem and figures out a new way that they can survive, it to me is very exciting.”

Neilson said the 10-year study within the caverns is significant because of potential new discoveries that will spawn from this one.

“They could be microbes that produce an antibiotic in the future, or a cancer drug that could be of use,” she said. “They could be microbes that could be used in remediation of contaminated sites.”

Microbes have many potential uses for humans, Neilson said.

“We have a whole lot more to learn. They’re probably not alien microbes, or doing anything strange,” she said in response to a “The Cave” question. “There’s a lot of organisms on this planet that still haven’t been discovered. And we still haven’t determined what they’re doing, and how they might be influencing global cycling of carbon and nitrogen and other processes that are really important to us.”

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Screenshot of video taken at the scene of a multivehicle crash in Scottsdale on April 18, 2024....

KTAR.com

Multiple patients treated after crash involving 5 vehicles in Scottsdale

Three people were taken to hospitals and six others were treated at the scene after a multivehicle crash in Scottsdale on Thursday.

49 minutes ago

Stock photo of stacks of bills. A Phoenix gas station sold a Powerball ticket that hit for $1 milli...

Kevin Stone

Powerball ticket worth $1 million purchased at Phoenix gas station

A Powerball ticket worth $1 million was purchased this week at a Phoenix gas station, the Arizona Lottery announced Thursday.

1 hour ago

side by side of kidnapping suspects who fled to Mexico...

SuElen Rivera

Couple arrested in Mexico 6 years after kidnapping children in Arizona

A couple was arrested earlier this month in Mexico six years after they allegedly kidnapped their noncustodial children in Tucson during a supervised visit.

2 hours ago

Split image showing the entry to the Avondale Aquatic Center on the left and an aerial view of the ...

Kevin Stone

Avondale Aquatic Center to make a splash in West Valley with pools, slides, lazy river, more

The Avondale Aquatic Center is getting ready to make a splash with pools, water slides, a lazy river and more.

3 hours ago

Seven-year-old Israel Maldonado was last seen in Phoenix on April 17, 2024, with his father. (Arizo...

KTAR.com

Police looking for boy last seen with father, who allegedly assaulted child’s mother in Phoenix

Authorities are searching for a 7-year-old boy who was last seen with his father Wednesday after the man allegedly assaulted the child's mother.

6 hours ago

Split image with a band playing in front of a Mesa mural on the left and an aerial view of the Mesa...

Kevin Stone

7th annual Mesa Music Festival gives emerging artists their turn in spotlight

Dozens of emerging musical artists will show off their chops this week during the seventh annual Mesa Music Festival.

8 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Condor Airlines

Condor Airlines can get you smoothly from Phoenix to Frankfurt on new A330-900neo airplane

Adventure Awaits! And there's no better way to experience the vacation of your dreams than traveling with Condor Airlines.

...

DESERT INSTITUTE FOR SPINE CARE

Desert Institute for Spine Care is the place for weekend warriors to fix their back pain

Spring has sprung and nothing is better than March in Arizona. The temperatures are perfect and with the beautiful weather, Arizona has become a hotbed for hikers, runners, golfers, pickleball players and all types of weekend warriors.

...

Collins Comfort Masters

Avoid a potential emergency and get your home’s heating and furnace safety checked

With the weather getting colder throughout the Valley, the best time to make sure your heating is all up to date is now. 

UA scientists discover new microorganisms in Kartchner Caverns