Deep biosphere

The deep biosphere refers to a vast and often underexplored realm of life existing deep below the Earth's surface, typically found in sediments, rocks, and subsurface environments. It encompasses microbial ecosystems that thrive in extreme conditions, far removed from sunlight and traditional energy sources. These microorganisms, which include bacteria and archaea, can be found at depths of several kilometers beneath the Earth's crust, where they interact with minerals, rocks, and geological processes.