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X-treme microbes

D

Dunryc

SOC-9
Have fun - X-treme microbes, an interesting find I believe

http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/microbes/

Titled "X-treme Microbes," the report focuses on the recent discovery of creatures that dwell in solid rock two miles deep in the Earth and survive by "eating" the breakdown products of radioactivity.

In addition, the Special Report provides a pictorial overview of what science now knows about other kinds of organisms -- called "extremophiles" -- that are redefining the limits of life on Earth and forcing scientists to reconsider the probability of life on other worlds.
 
Linking to yesterday's post about the cold dark end of the universe (here) it looks like these will be the last life forms to go. Presuming of course that they don't evolve much in the next trillion years or so.
 
My favourites are the phototrophs that live a few millimeters inside rocks in Antarctica. These little beasties get energy from the very few photons that make it through the rock layer. And they do it at -50 degC or so and with almost no available water. Thus the chances of photoautotrophs on cold dim planets is quite good I'd say.

Oh, an while we're on the subject of extremophiles, try to guess which ugly mug shot is mine! :)

http://www.bath.ac.uk/cer/
 
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