A rare find in the region of the ocean believed to be where Moses 'parted the Red Sea' could provide significant insights into the origins of life on Earth, according to scientists. The Gulf of Aqaba, located between Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, stretches 98 miles in length and ranges from seven to 14 miles in width, as per the US Naval Institute.
More than just a strip of water, the Gulf of Aqaba is steeped in legend. It is thought to be the site where Moses 'parted the Red Sea' to lead the enslaved Israelites across from Egypt, with Mount Sinai believed to be on the opposite side of the Sinai Peninsula, according to the Institute of Biblical Archaeology.
Beyond its historical significance, this area offers a unique opportunity for scientific exploration. Recent discoveries of 'death' pools, located 4,000 feet below the surface, are providing new perspectives on the possible formation of life on Earth.
Sam Purkis, professor and chair of the Department of Marine Geosciences at the University of Miami, explained to Live Science in 2022 that life is believed to have originated in deep-sea environments, likely in anoxic (oxygen-free) conditions. Deep-sea brine pools serve as analogs for early Earth, being devoid of oxygen and hypersaline, yet home to a rich community of 'extremophile' microbes.
Studying these communities offers a glimpse into the conditions where life may have first appeared on our planet and can guide the search for life on other 'water worlds' in our solar system and beyond. Molecules with antibacterial and anticancer properties have already been isolated from deep-sea microbes residing in these brine pools.
The groundbreaking nature of this discovery lies in the rarity of such pools. Scientists are aware of only a few dozen deep-sea brine pools globally, with just three known bodies of water hosting them: the Gulf of Mexico, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea.
According to the study, the newly discovered 'NEOM Brine Pools' extend the known geographical range of Red Sea brine pools and represent a unique preservational environment for sedimentary signals of regional climatic and tectonic events.
Unlike previous Red Sea finds, which were located at least 15.5 miles offshore, the brine pools in the Gulf of Aqaba are submerged just 1.25 miles from shore. Purkis noted that at such depths, life on the seabed is typically sparse. However, these brine pools are vibrant oases, supporting thick carpets of microbes and a diverse range of animals.
The team observed fish, shrimp, and eels using the brine to hunt. Any animal that ventures into the brine is immediately stunned or killed, preventing them from disturbing the sediment layers. Consequently, sedimentary layers in these brine pools remain remarkably intact, providing a pristine record for scientists to study.
