What lives kilometres beneath the ground? Researchers set to drill for answers
Stefan Bertilsson, Professor at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), is one of four researchers awarded an ERC Synergy Grant. They will investigate microorganisms isolated from the Earth's surface for a very long time, hoping to uncover clues to the early evolution of life.
How did complex life, including humans, first emerge? The answer may lie deep beneath our feet. Four researchers have been awarded an ERC Synergy Grant, one of the European Research Council's (ERC) most competitive funding schemes, to investigate the microorganisms living in the deep biosphere.
Searching for traces of life deep beneath the Earth's surface
The deep biosphere consists of microorganisms living in bedrock, far below the Earth's surface. In some environments, these microorganisms may have existed in isolation from surface life for millions of years. By studying these organisms and their habitats, the researchers hope to identify and describe early signs of life and gain a better understanding of how life has evolved.
The researchers will carry out several drilling campaigns, including in Finland, to collect samples from depths of several kilometres. The work will also involve analysing the genetic material and other biomolecules of the microorganisms, as well as studying their characteristics and functions.
Four researchers bring together their areas of expertise
By combining different areas of expertise and approaches, the researchers will be able to build a more comprehensive picture of the diversity, functions and evolution of the deep biosphere.
In addition to Stefan Bertilsson, the project involves Professor Henrik Drake at Linnaeus University. As well as leading the project, Henrik will contribute his expertise in geochemistry and biosignatures. The research team also includes Professor Mark Dopson, also at Linnaeus University, who brings expertise in drilling projects and sample collection, and Associate Professor Daniel Tamarit Chulia at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, whose expertise lies in the cultivation of microorganisms and evolutionary analysis.
Other researchers will also be invited to take part in analysing the collected material, allowing the samples to benefit a wider range of research fields and collaborations.
Building on research into microbial life
Stefan Bertilsson's research generally focuses on the diversity, ecology and biogeochemical functions of microorganisms in lakes, wetlands, marine environments and polar regions. Alongside this work, however, he has also been studying microorganisms in the continental deep biosphere for more than 15 years.
DEEP-LIFE has been awarded EUR 10 million and is scheduled to start on 1 May 2027.
About ERC Synergy Grants
ERC Synergy Grants are prestigious awards from the European Research Council, given to small groups of two to four principal investigators. Their aim is to promote research collaborations that address complex and ambitious scientific challenges that cannot be tackled by individual researchers working alone.
The emphasis is on interdisciplinary collaboration that pushes the boundaries of scientific knowledge through innovative and synergistic approaches. The ERC Synergy Grant programme is part of the European Union's research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe.
The article is translated into English with AI.