Researchers have discovered cyanobacteria in New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns that photosynthesize using near-infrared light, a spectrum invisible to humans. These microbes, found blanketing cave walls deep within the caverns, utilize chlorophyll d and f to absorb this light, which is amplified by the limestone surfaces to concentrations 695 times greater than at the cave entrance. This finding, made by Hazel Barton and Lars Behrendt, suggests life can thrive in extremely low-light conditions, potentially expanding the search for extraterrestrial life, particularly around red dwarf stars which emit primarily near-infrared light. The organisms are believed to have been in this environment, untouched for an estimated 49 million years, and their ability to produce oxygen without visible light is a significant indicator for potential life on exoplanets.