Viscous volcanic samples from the sea floor near the Mariana Trench have revealed tiny organisms thriving in the harshest conditions. The vibrant azure sediment that researchers extracted was so alkaline it could burn skin—substances with such high pH levels can penetrate deep into organic tissue, causing necrosis. However, this problem doesn't appear to affect the hardiest of deep-sea lifeforms. In one report, scientists claimed the discovered microbes feed on methane and sulfate while expelling hydrogen sulfide.

The surprising finding is yet more proof of life's resilience, showing how these "extremophiles" could have endured Earth's inhospitable conditions billions of years ago. "It is simply exciting to obtain insights into such a microbial habitat because we suspect that primordial life could have originated at precisely such sites," said organic geochemist Florence Schubotz. The discovery is also a boon for the field of astrobiology, as it opens the possibility of life forming on other planets with highly alkaline ecosystems.