Microbialites, strange carbonate structures that line the bottom of Pavilion Lake in British Columbia, Canada, come in many shapes and sizes. No-one knows why. But scientists in the Pavilion Lake Research Project (PLRP) hope to learn more by studying nearby Kelly Lake and making some comparisons.

During the 2011 PLRP field season, Astrobiology Magazine will be providing an Ask a Scientist feature. Readers can pose questions directly to the scientists in the field while they explore the depths of Kelly Lake.