Hidden World Inside Us: Mysterious Entities Discovered Living in Human Bodies

A team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery that is shedding new light on the human body's most basic functions. Scientists at Stanford University, led by Nobel Prize winner Andrew Fire, have found strange entities known as "obelisks" living inside human bodies, challenging our current understanding of life and its forms.

These tiny beings, ranging from tens to hundreds of nanometers in size, don't resemble traditional viruses or bacteria but instead exhibit unique characteristics that set them apart. Researchers discovered the obelisks through genetic library analysis, which involved combing through vast datasets of human-associated microbes.

The term "obelisk" was coined by cell and developmental biologist Mark Peifer, as it refers to their distinct shape, similar to ancient Egyptian stone structures. Obelisks are RNA-based entities that seem to lack protein coats common in viruses and bacteria. Instead, they carry RNA instructions around in tiny loops, which may play roles in regulating gene expression.

Thousand of unique types of obelisks have been detected across various regions of the human body, including the mouth, intestine, and skin. Their genetic signatures hint at a complex relationship with our internal ecosystems, but the health implications for humans are still unclear.

The discovery has sparked widespread interest among scientists, who recognize that it challenges existing categories of life, particularly in the RNA-based world. Dr. Simon Roux, a computational biologist, described this as "one of the most exciting parts of being in this field right now."

As researchers continue to study these mysterious entities, they are still piecing together their story and uncertain of what long-term implications might arise. If obelisks influence bacterial behavior, they could shape aspects of human biology.

This finding is set to reshape our understanding of life's building blocks and the diversity of microbial forms beyond traditional viruses and bacteria. Researchers remain vigilant, eager to uncover more secrets about these hidden world-insiders that have been living in plain sight inside us.