La Brea tar pit bacteria
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Posted by Judy Arbique Jun 28, 2007 |
A new species of bacteria that can survive and grow in asphalt has been discovered by environmental scientists at the University of California in Los Angeles. The bacteria were found trapped in soil mixed with heavy oil, a process that had started nearly 28,000 years ago. The bacteria have adapted to the oil and asphalt environment, despite the presence of highly toxic chemicals, and without water and little or no oxygen.
Methane bubbles emerging from the La Brea tar pits had historically been linked to the metabolic process through which oil is created. The discovery of the asphalt bacteria proved to be the true source of the methane gas bubbling up through the tar pits.
The bacteria will no doubt be useful for bioremediation processes.
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