Extreme Bugs Found In Slag Dump 53
lonefox_illuminus writes "The world's most alkaline lifeforms are living in contaminated water in the U.S. These microbial little fellas are able to exist in an environment as harsh and toxic as caustic soda."
To environmentalists everywhere... (Score:5, Interesting)
Perhaps we could set up other toxic slag dump wildlife preserves in other places throughout the world.
The only serious post... (Score:4, Interesting)
Living in extreme environments is one thing... (Score:4, Interesting)
One problem with this though... (Score:2, Interesting)
Although life can exist in these environments, did it actually arise in these environments or did it evolve from non-extreme ones? In the case that life could spontaneously evolve in these harsh conditions (harsh to me - perhaps not Cowboy Neal), then I would expect life everywhere in the universe. However, on the other hand, if they have to originate in 'nicer' climes and then evolve, then our search becomes more difficult.
It's just that I find it difficult to believe that the components that make up life could actually form in these extreme heat/pH conditions.
Just my cowardly 2 cents...