> <i>Templeton is one of a growing number of scientists who believe that the Earth’s deep subsurface is brimming with life. By some estimates, this unexplored biosphere may contain anywhere from a tenth to one-half of all living matter on Earth.</i><p>I know the emphasis should be "some", but even then this is a <i>lot</i> of biomatter. How do they come to that number?
This long article finally gets to a useful point and explains how there could be life on the bodies in the Solar System. Microbes eating hydrogen could actually be viable on Mars and other places, just like they do "down in the crust" on Earth. There's actually no reason it couldn't work on many places.
> “This is beautiful rock,” said Templeton, running a latex-gloved finger over its surface. Her sunglasses were pushed back over her straight brown hair, revealing cheekbones darkened from years of working outside on ships, on tropical islands, in the high Arctic, and everywhere else her work has taken her.<p>What a bizarre section. Would the author <i>ever</i> write about a man like this?