☄️ The asteroid that killed the dinosaurs also created an underground ecosystem

The impact that wiped out the dinosaurs may also have created one of Earth's most enduring underground ecosystems. A new study reveals that the Chicxulub crater hosted an active hydrothermal system for at least 8 million years, four times longer than scientists previously assumed.

On June 9, researchers published their work in the journal Communications Earth & Environment. By combining advanced computer simulations and analysis of rocks drilled directly from the crater, they found that hot water circulated underground long after the impact. These conditions provided an ideal refuge for microorganisms.


To measure this duration, scientists used argon-argon dating on potassium-rich feldspar crystals. These minerals form when hot fluids flow through rocks. The samples, collected during Expedition 364 of the International Ocean Discovery Program, indicate hydrothermal activity spanning from 66 to 58 million years ago.

Several factors explain this longevity. The rocks fractured by the impact are highly permeable; the residual heat from the collision adds to the region's natural geothermal energy. More realistic modern simulations show that this system could sustain microbial life for millions of years.

Such hydrothermal environments are considered possible cradles of life on Earth. If similar systems existed on other planets, they could have allowed life to emerge even after catastrophes. For example, on Mars, many impacts may have created underground habitats long after the surface became inhospitable.

Researchers note that the porous rocks of craters provide protection from radiation and extreme temperatures, allowing microorganisms to settle and thrive. This study opens new avenues for the search for extraterrestrial life, particularly on planets or moons marked by ancient impacts.