TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – A team from the University of Arizona has discovered that life can begin anew even on fresh lava following volcanic eruptions in Iceland.
The researchers observed how tiny microbes colonized the cooled lava between 2021 and 2023. Initially, soil and air introduced the first signs of life, but rainwater significantly boosted microbial growth.
The researchers believe this study could provide insights into how life might originate on other planets, such as Mars.