Scientist Drank Water That Is Billions Of Years Old And Shared What It Tastes Like

A scientist went the extra mile by taking a sip of water that has been around for billions of years.

Unlike most of us who would be disgusted by the idea of drinking water that's been left out for a few days, unless we had no other option, the scientists involved in an incredible study don't share that reaction.

Stable Isotope Lab/University of Toronto

In 2013, researchers from the University of Toronto made a fascinating discovery. They found water located over 1.5 miles beneath the Earth's surface in Timmins, Ontario, Canada. This water had been isolated from the outside world for countless thousands of years.

Canada Science and Technology Museum

The consensus among most individuals would likely be that this substance is unsuitable for consumption, as it ranges between 1.5 billion and 2.6 billion years of age.

However, Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar seems to stand apart from the majority.

Lollar, who was leading the research, decided to taste the water, and based on her reaction, it seemed the flavor was as unpleasant as you might think.

Not surprisingly, the ancient water turned out to have a really terrible taste.

Stable Isotope Lab/University of Toronto

When talking about the liquid's taste to the LA Times, the scientist said the first thing she noticed was something nobody wants in a drink: saltiness.

"Because of the reactions between the water and the rock, it is extremely salty," she said.

"It is more viscous than tap water. It has the consistency of a very light maple syrup."

"It doesn’t have color when it comes out, but as soon as it comes into contact with oxygen it turns an orangy color because the minerals in it begin to form especially the iron."

University of Toronto

Lollar warned others that they definitely shouldn't drink it, but despite that, she apparently tasted it more than once. She admitted, "I have to admit I have tasted it from time to time."

But before you judge her, she had her reasons as she explained: "We are interested in the saltiest waters because they are the oldest, and tasting is the quick-and-dirty way to find which are the most salty."

University of Toronto

Lollar didn't know that just three years later, scientists found even older water in the same place. This new water was thought to be at least 500 million years older than the first one they found.

We don't know how the taste was for this new water, but since the first one tasted so bad, we can guess it wasn't good either.