Scientists discover the oldest water on Earth and decide to drink it: “We didn’t expect this”

Scientists are in awe and say that they did not expect this for science

The discovery of water between 1.5 and 2.6 billion years old in a Canadian mine marked a milestone in geological research. Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar, who led the team of scientists responsible for the discovery, decided that one of the best ways to connect with this vestige of the Earth’s past was to taste it. Her analysis revealed that this water, considered the oldest ever found on Earth, flowed from a depth of three kilometres, trapped in rock formations for billions of years.

The scientists involved in the study described the water as “extremely salty and bitter”, with a composition noticeably saltier than that of seawater. According to Sherwood Lollar, this trait is not surprising, as high salinity is usually an indicator of greater age in groundwater. The bubbles that erupted from this water were a testament to its unexpected volume.

• “When we imagine water this old, we think of small amounts trapped in rock fissures,” she said. However, the team found steady flows at a rate of liters per minute, a much larger volume than anticipated.

This discovery not only had implications for the history of water on our planet, but also provided clues about the possibility of life in extreme conditions. The scientists analyzed the salts present in the water and detected sulfates with a chemical signature associated with microbial activity.

Scientists are still amazed by this discovery for science

This information was crucial to deduce that at some point, this liquid housed microscopic life forms. Sherwood Lollar explained that these microbes could not have left their mark suddenly. Instead, the activity that produced these chemical signals occurred over long geological periods. “We are talking about a microbial interaction that took place over millions of years,” said the scientist.

The scientists’ interaction with the water was not limited to laboratory analysis. In a bold gesture, Sherwood Lollar chose to drink a sip of the liquid to directly experience a connection with the Earth’s deep past. This act, far from being merely anecdotal, underlined the fascination that scientists feel when interacting with the oldest vestiges of our planet. Fortunately, the scientist did not suffer any adverse effects after ingesting the water, disproving any parallels with science fiction scenarios where such an act could trigger catastrophic events.

The discovery also opened new lines of research for scientists interested in life forms that could have existed in extreme conditions. Since this water has remained isolated for billions of years, it represents an environment analogous to possible habitats on other celestial bodies, such as Mars or the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn. The microbial activity detected in the water reinforces the idea that life forms could subsist in subterranean environments where the interaction between water, minerals and chemical sources of energy is viable.

Sherwood Lollar noted that this discovery underlines the importance of interdisciplinary studies, where geologists, chemists and biologists work together to decipher the secrets of the Earth’s subsoil. According to the scientist, these types of findings not only shed light on the Earth’s past, but also offer a window into astrobiological exploration. If scientists have found evidence of life in such ancient and isolated water here, it increases the possibility of detecting traces of life in equally extreme extraterrestrial environments.

Place where scientists tested water for science

The scientists’ role was not limited to documenting the chemical and physical characteristics of water. They also explored the cultural and philosophical significance of interacting with such an ancient substance.

Sherwood Lollar highlighted how these kinds of discoveries connect humans to the planet’s most remote past, helping us better understand our position within the Earth system. For scientists, each find represents another piece in the puzzle of our planetary history, reminding us that Earth still holds deep secrets beneath its surface.

Furthermore, scientists observed that subterranean environments such as the one that contained this water offer unique opportunities to study biological and chemical processes not found on the surface. The interactions between water, minerals and rock, in the absence of sunlight and with conditions of extreme isolation, provide a natural laboratory to understand the limits of habitability. This knowledge is not only relevant to understanding our planet, but also to preparing future space missions.

Professor Sherwood Lollar emphasized that this discovery is an example of how scientific curiosity can lead to extraordinary results. Although drinking water that is billions of years old may seem like an unusual decision, for scientists it represented a symbolic way of connecting with the planet’s deep past. This gesture encapsulates the spirit of exploration that drives researchers to delve into the unknown, seeking answers to the most fundamental questions about the origin and evolution of life.

In this context, scientists not only played a technical role, but also a narrative one, by sharing their discovery with the world. Their work highlights how studying the planet’s oldest waters can inspire future generations of researchers. This discovery is a reminder that Earth still holds extraordinary secrets, waiting to be revealed by those willing to explore the deepest corners of its history.