Geobiology

The BedrettoLab Deep Life Observatory (DELOS), offers a rare opportunity to study the deep continental subsurface biosphere by enabling systematic sampling and long‑term monitoring of groundwater from natural fractures along the 5.2‑km tunnel. The site spans overburdens from only a few tens of meters down to 1.6 km, creating an exceptional natural laboratory across diverse subsurface conditions.

DELOS focuses on understanding how hydrogeology, geochemistry, and microbial life co‑evolve in a rapidly changing high‑Alpine environment. Ongoing investigations examine groundwater chemistry and the composition of microbial communities, allowing researchers to track how subsurface ecosystems respond to both natural variations and controlled experimental disturbances. This work provides a quantitative basis for linking biological signals to fluid transport, fracture connectivity, and geochemical processes at depth.

Since its establishment, DELOS has already yielded a surprising discovery: large populations of previously unknown microorganisms, often referred to as “microbial dark matter.” This finding has sparked new research into microbial physiology and has led to collaborations with the ETH Center for the Origin and Prevalence of Life, opening new ways for understanding life in extreme environments.