Overview
Everything we know about life comes from studying our own planet. Recent
discoveries about life forms in extreme environments have renewed scientists'
interest in looking for life elsewhere.
Organisms that thrive in a wide variety of harsh conditions –called
extremophiles—are broadening scientists’ understanding of the diverse
environmental conditions life can withstand. Scientists have had to modify their
theories and expand their view of what types of environments are habitable based on
the new information presented by the existence of extremophiles.
Watch the following 1.5 minute NOVA video on extremophiles. Complete your initial
post by answering the questions below:
Life’s Extreme Environments
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/nvfl.sci.space.extremophiles/lifes-
extreme-environments/#.WjLURN-nGM8
? What is an extremophile?
? What kinds of extreme environments can life thrive in?
? Explain why the study of extreme environments on Earth is important to the search
for life on other planets. Do you think this could change the way scientists view our
understanding of life? Why or why not?