Sunlight not needed for life? Energy from fractured rocks helps survival

A recent study by researchers at the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry in China reveals that life can exist without sunlight by harnessing energy from chemical reactions triggered by the fracturing of underground rocks. This process, known as crustal faulting, creates fault zones that allow water and gases to circulate, producing reactive free radicals that react with water to generate hydrogen gas and oxidants like hydrogen peroxide. Remarkably, the hydrogen produced during simulated rock fracturing was found to be up to 100,000 times greater than that from other natural processes such as serpentinization or radiolysis. These substances create an energy-rich environment that supports microbial life deep beneath the Earth's surface, independent of sunlight. The study also highlights how these chemical reactions drive iron redox cycling, which sustains further biochemical processes involving elements essential for life, such as carbon and nitrogen. This suggests that geological activity, including earthquakes and minor underground shifts, can maintain subsurface ecosystems by providing continuous energy through redox reactions. Beyond Earth, this