A unique project has launched in the scientific world, one without precedent in terms of its timescale. Researchers have initiated an experiment designed to last 500 years to answer a fundamental question: how long can bacteria survive under conditions of absolute dryness? The final results of this grand study will not be known until the year 2514.

According to RBK-Ukraine, citing a publication in the prestigious scientific journal PLOS, the experiment was initiated by scientists inspired by a series of surprising accidental discoveries. The idea arose after astrobiologist Charles Cockell accidentally left a dried Petri dish containing Chroococcidiopsis bacteria for a whole decade. When he discovered the forgotten sample, the cells were still alive.

Life Beyond Human Time

This incident was not isolated. Biologists have previously successfully revived bacteria from samples stored in museums and archives for hundreds of years. German microbiologist Ralf Möller, one of the key figures in this field, notes that such examples prove: the lifespan on our planet is not limited by the time standards familiar to humans.

"To fully understand this phenomenon, we need research that goes beyond the average human lifespan," the scientist believes. It is precisely for this purpose that the experiment was planned, requiring the patience of several generations of researchers.

Experiment Design: 800 Ampoules and Double Protection

The project is based on 800 simple glass ampoules containing dried bacteria of two species: Chroococcidiopsis and Bacillus subtilis. To ensure maximum purity of the experiment, the samples were divided into two groups:

  • Lead-protected: half of the ampoules received a special lead coating. This is intended to protect the bacteria from the harmful effects of natural radiation—radon and cosmic rays—capable of destroying DNA.
  • Unprotected: the other half of the ampoules remained in their normal state. This is the control group, necessary for comparing survival rates under different conditions.

Recognizing the risk of losing unique data, the researchers created an exact duplicate of the entire set of test tubes. This reserve set was handed over for storage at the Natural History Museum in London, guaranteeing the preservation of the experiment even in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Check Schedule: From Two Years to a Quarter Century

The procedure for checking results is strictly regulated and calculated for centuries. During the first 24 years of the experiment, scientists will open and test the test tubes every two years to track the dynamics of survival in the initial phase.

Starting from 2038 and up to the final point in 2514, the check schedule will become less frequent: analysis will be conducted only once every quarter century—every 25 years. Scientists have already published the first official report on the results of the initial stage of the study, confirming the viability of the methodology.