Neon Green Glow in New Mexico Cave: Scientists Uncover 49 Million-Year-Old Hidden World

• Scientists discovered unusual green microbes thriving deep within Carlsbad Caverns in 2018, a finding that could redefine the search for extraterrestrial life.
• These microbes, identified as cyanobacteria, utilize chlorophyll d and f to absorb near-infrared light, challenging the long-held belief that photosynthesis requires visible sunlight.
• The colonies may have existed for 49 million years, isolated from surface changes, demonstrating life's adaptability to extreme darkness.
• This discovery has significant implications for astrobiology, suggesting life could exist on exoplanets orbiting red dwarf stars that primarily emit near-infrared radiation.
• The findings could help NASA narrow down potential life-supporting worlds and refine the search for oxygen as a biosignature on exoplanets.