Snottites:
Fewer studies have investigated microbial communities growing on the walls of sulfidic caves. Among these, most of the studies investigated the geomicrobiology of snottites, which are extremely acidic biofilms clinging to overhanging gypsum cave walls or ceilings. [“Geomicrobiology of a seawater-influenced active sulfuric acid cave,” Ilenia M. D’Angeli and Daniele Ghezzi, PLoS One]
Noted in “Why the hunt for alien life is under way far beneath Earth’s surface,” Donna Lu, NewScientist (16 November 2019, paywall):
On the day I join them, [Heidi] Aronson’s mission is to collect clear, teardrop-shaped secretions that hang from the walls and ceilings of the cave. Geologists call these snottites, and their resemblance to the dripping tip of a runny nose is uncanny. Because the snottites are full of bacteria and extremely acidic, Aronson hopes they will contain the sulphur producers.
Yep, that’s four WotD entries from one magazine article.
