What are extremophiles?

Posted on June 17, 2020   by Matt Bassett

Earth is full of extreme environments. The poles boast temperatures below -40 degrees Celsius; the deep trenches of the oceans inflict pressures a thousand times higher than at sea level; and deep-sea hydrothermal vents belch out sulphur and carbon dioxide, heating the surrounding water up to 450 degrees Celsius. Despite the extreme conditions, microbes have found ways to adapt to these niche environments.

Our latest video explores some of Earth’s extremes, the microbes that make them their home and the advancements in science that have happened thanks to these incredible micro-organisms.