article_snippet.sent: While examining species of bacteria that thrive on the fossil fuel deposits deep inside the Earth - known as archae - Scientists have found a new type of virus that infects Scientists.
article_snippet.sent: bacteria now believe it may be viruses like this that actually hold the secret that have allowed archae bacteria to adapt to some of the harshest environments on Earth.
article_snippet.sent: Now it seems Scientists may also find viruses like this one living there too.
article_snippet.sent: Dr David Valentine, a geoscientist at the University of California Santa Barbara and co-author of the research, said: 'Our study uncovers mechanisms by which viruses and archaea can adapt in this hostile environment.'
article_snippet.sent: Dr Valentine and Valentine colleagues discovered the virus while exploring methane vents 2,800 feet beneath the surface of the ocean in the Santa Monica basin off the coast of California.
article_snippet.sent: When Dr Valentine and his colleagues screened the genomes of the methane-eating bacteria Dr Valentine and his colleagues discovered the genetic fingerprint of the virus.
article_snippet.sent: Dr Blair Paul, lead author of the research and an earth scientist at the University of California Santa Barbara, said: 'The evidence suggests that this viral type is distributed around the globe in deep ocean methane seeps.'
highlights_snippet.sent: New archeal virus infects primitive bacteria living off methane underground .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Scientists believe New archeal virus holds the key to life surviving in extreme environments .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Scientists discovered the virus in samples taken from beneath the Santa Monica Basin off the coast of California but say the viruses live around the world .