Life on the edge
Even in the world's harshest environments there are creatures that cling to life equipped with extraordinary survival capabilities.
Welcome to the bizarre and uncomfortable (for us) world of the extremophiles - hardy organisms that thrive under the most punishing conditions.
Apart from cold-loving species there are organisms adapted to extreme heat, dryness, saltiness and even high radioactivity.
The most impressive hyperthermophile is the recently discovered Strain 121. It is able to keep dividing even at water temperatures of 121C (hence its name). At this depth, due to the extreme pressure, water does not boil.
halophiles or salt-lovers, have adapted to thrive in salt concentrations 10 times those in sea water, or even higher - for example in Utah's Great Salt Lake
With so many super-hardy creatures on our doorstep here on Earth, the possibility that simple life-forms exist somewhere in the solar system or beyond looks much more likely.
clipped from: www.guardian.co.uk 