Oil-eating microorganisms found in Mariana Trench

The research was published in the journal Microbiome and a brief overview was published in Science Alert. Scientists studied microorganisms pulled from the bottom of the deepest natural pool on our planet.

The concentration of microorganisms there was significantly higher than at any other spot on Earth. Analysis revealed a new group of bacteria capable of breaking down hydrocarbons – organic compounds made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms. These can be found in many substances, including crude oil and natural gas.

“These are microorganisms that feed on compounds similar to those found in oil and are then used as fuel.” “Such microorganisms play an important role in cleaning up oil spills caused by natural disasters, such as the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill,” said Jonathan Todd, co-author of the study from the University of East Anglia (UEA, UK).

However, scientists are still unsure whether bacteria found in the Mariana Trench could be used to undo the effects of the environmental disaster.