extremophiles
Heat-loving tiny organisms
Extremophiles are organisms that thrive in conditions hostile to most life—extreme heat, cold, acidity, pressure, or salinity.
The term comes from words meaning "lover of extremes." Bacteria living in volcanic hot springs, microbes in Antarctic ice, and creatures near deep-sea hydrothermal vents are all extremophiles.
Their existence has expanded scientific understanding of where life can survive, including potentially on other planets.
Third domain of life
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- prokaryoteCell without nuclear membrane
- microorganismMicroscopic living entity
- microbeMicroscopic living organism
domain · phylogeny · metabolism · cultivation · isolation · taxonomy · morphology · physiology
Heat-adapted living thing
- cryophileCold-loving organism
- anaerobeOrganism needing no oxygen
- tardigradeMicroscopic resilient eight-legged animal
Excessively high salt concentration
- deep-seaOf ocean depths
- permafrostPerpetually frozen earth layer
- volcanicOf fiery mountain origin
- desertTo leave behind completely
Antarctic · submarine · geothermal · cave · subglacial · fumarole · geyser
Study of cosmic organisms
- exobiologyStudy of cosmic life
- panspermiaLife spreads via space rocks
- biosignatureEvidence of living processes
- habitabilitySuitability for dwelling
Europa · Enceladus · Mars · exoplanet · extraterrestrial · abiogenesis · meteorite · comet
Adhesive layer of microorganisms
- sporeAsexual reproductive cell
- desiccationComplete removal of moisture
- dormancySuspended biological activity
- osmoregulationMaintaining internal solute balance
Engineering using living systems
- bioremediationLiving organisms detoxify pollutants
- PCRDNA amplification technique
- biofuelFuel from organic sources
- bioindicatorSpecies showing ecosystem health
archaea
Third domain of life
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- prokaryoteCell without nuclear membrane
- microorganismMicroscopic living entity
microbe · domain · phylogeny · metabolism · cultivation · isolation · taxonomy · morphology · physiology · lipid
thermophile
Heat-adapted living thing
- cryophileCold-loving organism
- anaerobeOrganism needing no oxygen
- tardigradeMicroscopic resilient eight-legged animal
hypersaline
Excessively high salt concentration
- deep-seaOf ocean depths
- permafrostPerpetually frozen earth layer
- volcanicOf fiery mountain origin
desert · Antarctic · submarine · geothermal · cave · subglacial · fumarole · geyser
astrobiology
Study of cosmic organisms
- exobiologyStudy of cosmic life
- panspermiaLife spreads via space rocks
- biosignatureEvidence of living processes
habitability · Europa · Enceladus · Mars · exoplanet · extraterrestrial · abiogenesis · meteorite · comet · interstellar
biofilm
Adhesive layer of microorganisms
- sporeAsexual reproductive cell
- desiccationComplete removal of moisture
- dormancySuspended biological activity
biotechnology
Engineering using living systems
- bioremediationLiving organisms detoxify pollutants
- PCRDNA amplification technique
- biofuelFuel from organic sources
- archaeathermophiles
- life formsorganisms, organism, lifeforms, animal, creatures
- hot springssteam, thermal springs, hydrogen sulfide, bubbles, mineral deposits
- glaciersglacier, crevasse, glacial movement, moraine, iceberg
- Alien Lifeextraterrestrial life, extraterrestrial intelligence, alien intelligence, first contact, biosignatures
- Early Earthprimordial soup, early life, abiogenesis, prokaryotes, single-celled organisms