NASA-Funded Research Finds Complex Life Defying Record Heat
Lee esta historia en español aquí. NASA-supported scientists have discovered an organism that lives at extreme temperatures previously thought impossible for complex life. High temperatures can cause the destruction of necessary cell components, which is a big problem for cells with complex parts like a nucleus encasing delicate genetic information. In the heated waters of […] The post…
NASA-supported scientists have discovered an organism, Incendiamoeba cascadensis, that thrives at extreme temperatures thought previously impossible for complex life. The amoeba can reproduce at 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius), setting a new record for eukaryotes. I. cascadensis remains active at temperatures up to 147 degrees Fahrenheit (64 degrees Celsius).
Prior to this discovery, the temperature limit for eukaryotes was 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius). The findings were published in the journal Cell. Studying extremophiles, such as I. cascadensis, helps scientists understand the limits of life and potentially identify habitable locations in the universe for more complex life forms.
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- NASA-Funded Research Finds Complex Life Defying Record Heat science.nasa.gov
