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2-billion-year-old rock unearthed in South Africa is home to microbes that are still alive and thriving

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A 2-billion-year-old rock containing ancient microbes has been unearthed in South Africa .

These are the oldest examples of living microbes ever found within ancient rock.

Microbes were found in a sealed fracture in the rock, which was excavated from the Bushveld Igneous Complex .

The implications of their discovery are potentially even as far as the Red Planet .