Unknown life forms discovered in centuries-old Hawaiian lava caves

Microbe colonies in Hawaii’s volcanic vents are vast and complex.

These are the smallest known living organisms on Earth, and we know very little about them.

According to estimates, 99.999 percent of all microbe species are unknown.

The conditions are as close to those of Mars or other distant planets as you can get.

Microbes in older lava caves, dating back more than 500 years, are typically more diverse.

These tiny little creatures take a long time to colonise the volcanic basalt.

Their social structure changes over time as their environment changes.

And if microbes can survive in 600-800 year old lava tubes, we might find some on Mars at some point.