Where is life found on Earth?Where is life found on Earth?E X P L O R I N G A S T R O B I O L O G Y:E X P L O R I N G A S T R O B I O L O G Y:
Life Finds A WayLife Finds A Way
Knowing where life is found on Earth helps us look for extraterrestrial life.Amazingly, as long as some basic requirements for survival are met,
life finds a way to thrive almost everywhere on Earth!
Atacama Desert, ChileAtacama Desert, Chile Image: CalTechImage: CalTech
Where is life found on Earth?Where is life found on Earth?E X P L O R I N G A S T R O B I O L O G Y:E X P L O R I N G A S T R O B I O L O G Y:
Basic Requirements Of LifeBasic Requirements Of Life
An ongoing source of energy is required to sustain life.This energy can come from sunlight, other organisms, carbohydrates and lipids,
chemicals from undersea vents, methane, and a host of other sources.
Image: NASA/ ESAImage: NASA/ ESA
Where is life found on Earth?Where is life found on Earth?E X P L O R I N G A S T R O B I O L O G Y:E X P L O R I N G A S T R O B I O L O G Y:
Basic Requirements Of LifeBasic Requirements Of Life
Life as we know it also requires liquid water, and a specific range of temperatures.Above 266°F (130°C), organic molecules fall apart. Some large animals can tolerate low
temperatures, but most bacteria and microbes can’t function below -4°F (-20°C).
Image: NASA/ JPLImage: NASA/ JPL
Where is life found on Earth?Where is life found on Earth?E X P L O R I N G A S T R O B I O L O G Y:E X P L O R I N G A S T R O B I O L O G Y:
Living On The EdgeLiving On The Edge
There are places on Earth that seem too hostile for survival—but tough organisms called “extremophiles” find a way to occupy even these unlikely locations.
Acidic, toxic water- Rio Tinto, Spain
Extremely salty water , Extremely salty water , San Francisco BaySan Francisco Bay
Hydrothermal VentIn the Atlantic Ocean
Hot spring, Yellowstone National Park
Antarctic ice
Where is life found on Earth?Where is life found on Earth?E X P L O R I N G A S T R O B I O L O G Y:E X P L O R I N G A S T R O B I O L O G Y:
Survival SpecialistsSurvival Specialists
Most extremophiles are microbes, though some are larger—like methane-eating ice worms! Their biochemistry, metabolism, and physiology are different from those of
most species, having evolved to thrive in extreme environments.
Methane-eating ice worm from Atlantic seafloorImage: Penn State University/ NOAA
Cold-loving microbes adapted to living in polar sea iceImage: Christian Knoblauch
Where is life found on Earth?Where is life found on Earth?E X P L O R I N G A S T R O B I O L O G Y:E X P L O R I N G A S T R O B I O L O G Y:
More ExtremophilesMore ExtremophilesBacteria under the surfaces of rocks in the bone-dryBacteria under the surfaces of rocks in the bone-dry
Atacama desertAtacama desert Microbes living in pockets of water under Microbes living in pockets of water under
Antarctic iceAntarctic ice
Bacteria living in droplets of water in cloudsBacteria living in droplets of water in clouds
Extremophiles can survive in extreme heat and cold, high radiation, very dry areas, droplets of water in clouds, and even in the depths of caves—
where they live in and eat solid rock! Life keeps surprising us with its ability to adapt to challenging circumstances
here on Earth. Who knows where it might exist elsewhere?
Image: NOAAImage: NOAA
Image: Carnegie Mellon UniversityImage: Carnegie Mellon UniversityRobotics InstituteRobotics Institute
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