Some time ago, the news broke that a bacterium had been awakened from dormancy and was successfully reproducing. Not just any bacterium—a bacterium believed to have been trapped inside a bubble of water within a Permian-age salt crystal. Thus, this native of southeastern New Mexico, or what would become New Mexico some 250 million years later, was hailed as the most ancient surviving organism.
Of course, science is always open to being tested and, if necessary,
revised in the light of further knowledge. Safeguards to prevent contamination by other
bacteria during recovery appeared good, but another question brought up was whether the
water might have been a younger contaminant within the older crystal. Since this is
known to happen sometimes, doubt concerning the age of the bacterium has lingered on.
Recently, the chemistry of the water inclusions has been examined. Permian oceans had a
different chemical makeup than seas of other times. The chemical makeup of the water
was found to be diagnostic for Permian times. As it now stands, then, Rip van Winkle
was a mere amateur.
> Contributor: Arthur H. Harris, Laboratory for Environmental Biology, Centennial Museum, University of Texas at El Paso.
Desert Diary is a joint production of the Centennial Museum and KTEP National Public Radio at the University of Texas at El Paso.