Definição e significado de Snottite

  Snottites in Cueva de Villa Luz in Southern Mexico

Snottites are colonies of single-celled extremophilic bacteria which hang from the walls and ceilings of caves and are similar to small stalactites, but have the consistency of "snot", a slang word for nasal mucus.

The bacteria derive their energy from chemosynthesis of volcanic sulfur compounds including H₂S and warm-water solution dripping down from above, producing sulfuric acid. Because of this, their waste products are highly acidic (approaching pH=0), with similar properties to battery acid.^[1]

Snottites were recently brought to attention by researchers Diana Northup and Penny Boston, studying them (and other organisms) in a toxic sulfur cave called Cueva de Villa Luz (Cave of the Lighted House), in Tabasco, Mexico. The term "snottite" was originally given to these cave features by Jim Pisarowicz in 1986.

Brian Cox's BBC series Wonders of the Solar System saw the scientist examining snottites in the caves and positing that, if there is life on Mars, it may be similarly primitive and hidden beneath the surface of the Red Planet.

  Additional sources

Hose L D, Pisarowcz J A. (1999) Cueva de Villa Luz, Tabasco, Mexico: reconnaissance study of an active sulfur spring cave and ecosystem. J Cave Karst Studies;61:13–21

  See also

• Archaea

  References

  External links

• Cave slime at NASA
• The Subsurface Life in Mineral Environments (SLIME) Team