Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS
Volume 5, Issue 4, Pages 583-587Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12050
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Funding
- NASA Exobiology programme [NNX12AD61G]
- Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [CGL2010-16004]
- NASA [52923, NNX12AD61G] Funding Source: Federal RePORTER
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Endolithic cyanobacteria are found in halite nodules in the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert. Using Pulse Amplitude Modulated Fluorometry, we show here that photosynthetic systems of these cyanobacteria become active when the relative humidity rises above 70% and the salt becomes wet by way of deliquescence. This is the first evidence of active metabolism in the hyperarid core of the Atacama, and supports the view of a microbial community sustained by deliquescence. Our results expand the water activity envelope of life on Earth.
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