Sunday, January 8, 2012

6. Extreme Organism: Hyperthermophile

There are certain organisms that thrive in environments that are too harsh for ordinary organisms to survive in. Some can live in high level of salt or water, and some can live in high levels of heat. The ones that thrives in high levels of heat are know as hyperthermophiles.These organisms usually live in an environment that's about 60 degrees Celsius or more which is about 140 degrees Fahrenheit, usually staying in a temperature of about 80 degrees Celsius. Hyperthermophiles can withstand even 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit). Along with it's addiction to heat, some of these organisms may also withstand high levels of acidity or radiation. Hyperthermophiles were first discovered by Thomas D. Brock in 1969. He found them in the Yellowstone National Park hot springs. There have been over seventy discoveries since then.

The picture above is a Metanopyrus Kandleri which can survive and thrive in an environment of about 122 degrees Celsius.

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