Karen Lloyd: The mysterious microbes living deep inside the earth -- and how they could help humanity

The video explores the vast world of microbes, particularly those deep within Earth's crust. It highlights the immense weight and number of these microbes compared to those in our guts and on Earth's surface. The discussion covers microbial dormancy, evolutionary benefits of slow growth, and the unique subsurface life forms that survive without sunlight. The video also delves into research conducted in volcanic regions, particularly in Costa Rica, to understand how these microbes interact with geological processes. The potential of these microbes in carbon sequestration and their implications for climate change and future research are also discussed.

What is the estimated weight of the microbes living inside the Earth's crust?

• 500 million tons

• 100,000 tons

• 40 billion tons

• 2 billion tons

How deep have microbes been found within the Earth's crust?

• 1 kilometer

• 3 kilometers

• 10 kilometers

• 5 kilometers

What analogy is used to explain the dormancy of deep subsurface microbes?

• A sleeping bear

• A dormant volcano

• A tree in winter

• A hibernating frog

What evolutionary advantage do slow-growing microbes have?

• They can photosynthesize in the dark

• They can outcompete faster-growing microbes under starvation

• They can produce oxygen

• They can survive without water

What is a chemolithoautotroph?

• A microbe that uses sunlight to make food

• A microbe that uses chemicals from rocks to make food

• A microbe that feeds on other microbes

• A microbe that lives in the ocean

What waste products do chemolithoautotrophs produce?

• Oxygen

• Methane

• Carbon dioxide

• Minerals like rust and pyrite

What geological feature is associated with the exchange of materials between the surface and subsurface?

• Rivers

• Deserts

• Mountains

• Subduction zones

What was the hypothesis about carbon dioxide in Costa Rican hot springs?

• It was being used by plants

• It was being filtered out by subsurface processes

• It was being converted into oxygen

• It was being released into the atmosphere

How might subsurface microbes help address climate change?

• By converting carbon dioxide into solid minerals

• By reducing methane emissions

• By increasing plant growth

• By producing more oxygen

What potential applications could arise from studying deep subsurface microbes?

• Developing new antibiotics

• Predicting weather patterns

• Understanding the origin of life

• Improving solar energy efficiency