Strange New Organism Found Thriving in One of Earth’s Harshest “Alien” Landscapes is Challenging Our Thinking on Evolution | UAP

The discovery of a remarkable new organism thriving in a seemingly inhospitable “alien” landscape is revealing new insights into the evolution of multicellular life and the ways it interacts with bacteria.

The new species of choanoflagellate, dubbed Barroeca monosierra and discovered by researchers in eastern California’s salty Mono Lake, has been found to form multicellular colonies, in addition to hosting its own unique microbiome.

The “Aliens” at California’s Mono Lake

Well known not only for its salt content, but also its high levels of poisonous arsenic and cyanide, Mono Lake’s extreme and otherwise inhospitable environment makes it an unusual destination for researchers seeking previously undocumented life forms. The location’s otherworldly appearance, complete with tufa limestone columns that arise from its waters, formed over time from the accumulation of calcium carbonate minerals, also prompts frequent comparisons to an “alien” environment.

However, the discovery of the new choanoflagellate and its unique ability to form colonies and host a microbiome present a potentially important new model for the study of early multicellular life and its evolution over time.

The new findings may also help to shed light on the…