Eight Extreme Situations You’d Never Survive
Food and water are necessities of life. Without them, life would not exist. Believe it or not, scientists have now found bacteria than survive without them.
Life Below Freezing
It is hard for life to survive and reproduce below the freezing point of water as ice crystals form, fatally rupturing cell walls. In 1992 scientists discovered a single-celled organism, “Methanococcoides burtonii”, which lives and grows at -2.5°C. Flexible cell walls and an ability to produce their own ‘antifreeze’ enable some bacteria to survive a chilling -20°C.
Life in Acid
Acid can eat through human flesh in a second, damaging cells and ultimately killing them. Yet there are some life forms, like the red algae “Cyanidium caldarium”, that have adapted to survive, and even thrive, in the most acidic of conditions, such as the hot volcano pools found in Yellowstone National Park.
Life Above Boiling
In 2003, scientists studying a volcanic vent 2 km under the sea and discovered a single-celled organism that can cope with temperatures of 121°C. They named it “Geogemma barossii”. Since then, these creatures have been found living happily under the enormous pressures found at the bottom of many of the world’s deepest oceans.
Life Without Air
In the vacuum of space there is practically no water or oxygen, and the intense cold and radiation are extremely harmful to most life. But experiments have shown that at least one strain of bacteria can survive for over six months in space, by hibernating. Bacteria could be hibernating on distant worlds with little water or oxygen, just waiting for the right conditions to blossom into life.
Life in Ice
This microorganism was discovered under 4 km of ice, just above Lake Vostok, Russia. Lake Vostok is a massive body of liquid water buried under the ice for 400,000 years. It may contain some very unusual life, having been isolated from the rest of the planet for so long.
Life under High Radiation Bombardment
The bacteria “Deinococcus radiodurans” can survive doses of radiation 3,000 times greater than that needed to kill a human being. Radiation destroys DNA but this creature has spare copies of the most vital bits, as well as speedy DNA repair mechanisms.
Life in Salt
Salt in large quantities can pose a danger to life because it sucks the water from cells. However, the organisms such as “Haloferax volcanii” have adapted to live in extremely salty conditions, and can even survive for thousands of years in dried-out salt lakes.
Rock-Eating Bacteria
Buried deep underground, well away from sunlight or oxygen, there exists one of the strangest forms of life on this planet. This strain of bacteria lives on hydrogen and carbon dioxide given off from the surrounding rock.
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82 Responses to “Eight Extreme Situations You’d Never Survive”
On January 19, 2009 at 6:54 am
wow this is fab good work.
On January 19, 2009 at 7:11 am
That’s a really interesting article.
On January 19, 2009 at 7:13 am
This is interesting and informative! I like how you have an example for each situation.
On January 19, 2009 at 7:29 am
Nice piece, very informative.
On January 19, 2009 at 8:31 am
Great article. You must spend a lot of time researching this stuff. I am a believer that man knows very little about life anywhere.
On January 19, 2009 at 8:45 am
Interesting article. Thanks for sharing
On January 19, 2009 at 9:04 am
Fragile humanity. Love the article. I didnt know about the rock eating bacteria…
On January 19, 2009 at 10:00 am
Another really great article. This leaves no doubt in my mind, that life will continue long after the human species is gone.
On January 19, 2009 at 11:23 am
This is a very interesting article. I really enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing.
On January 19, 2009 at 11:39 am
another article that is really imformative
On January 19, 2009 at 11:52 am
Fascinating
On January 19, 2009 at 11:57 am
Very interesting and a great read.
On January 19, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Super interesting article about a great topic. This is very original and makes you think about life in distant places. great job
On January 19, 2009 at 12:36 pm
This is another very good and well written article.
On January 19, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Most people don’t know all of this interesting information. This is very enlightening. Enjoyed it!
On January 19, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Great piece.
On January 19, 2009 at 1:34 pm
A very informative piece. Great work Matt.
Monica
On January 19, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Nice. I didn’t know there was anything that a rock was good for, let alone a bacteria that depends on it! Neat Thanks!
On January 19, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Very informative article and well written . you taught me something new which always makes my day.
On January 19, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Very cool stuff, good article.
On January 19, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Great informative article! Congrats
On January 19, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Just an fyi, Lake Vostok is in Antarctica, under a Russian station.
On January 19, 2009 at 5:44 pm
interesting..
On January 19, 2009 at 7:01 pm
This is quite the interesting article!
On January 19, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Very interesting article.
On January 19, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Great idea for an article. Well researched and written.
On January 19, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Well researched and put across
On January 19, 2009 at 8:38 pm
very well done.
Good job.
Cheers,
denus
On January 19, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Enjoyable reading. Thanks
On January 19, 2009 at 9:22 pm
That’s interesting.
Thanks,
Inna
On January 19, 2009 at 9:38 pm
informative..
On January 19, 2009 at 10:01 pm
interesting information, I enjoyed reading.
On January 19, 2009 at 10:40 pm
very interesting article.
On January 19, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Very interesting and looks like you did alot of research!
On January 19, 2009 at 11:16 pm
nice chap. very interesting.
On January 20, 2009 at 6:31 am
Wow, very cool information.
On January 20, 2009 at 8:48 am
Extremely informative about extremes! Found this incredibly interesting. It certainly interested my partner – he was glued to the monitor, looking over my shoulder while I was reading it
.
On January 20, 2009 at 9:57 am
Really interesting article! Stumbled too!
On January 20, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Great article! I learned a lot! Thanks for writing this!
On January 20, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Organisms that can survive after humankind dissapears.
On January 20, 2009 at 3:32 pm
A interesting article…I learned something today.
On January 20, 2009 at 5:06 pm
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In light of methane plumes discovered on Mars – a great article. Well done . j
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On January 20, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Geez, I have a tough enough time in ‘normal’ conditions!!!
Thanks,
Clay
On January 20, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Interesting article!
On January 21, 2009 at 12:16 am
Great article… thank you for this research… it was great info!
On January 21, 2009 at 6:42 am
People before me have summed it up, fascinating and interesting at the same time.
Woody
On January 21, 2009 at 6:51 am
Nice one! Do write more of this kind!
On January 21, 2009 at 10:06 am
What a fantastic article. Thank you.
On January 21, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Very interesting article. Thanks for sharing.
On January 21, 2009 at 6:34 pm
really nice content!good work)
On January 22, 2009 at 10:06 am
maybe this is a creature to add to the list…
The source of these toxic fumes lies several miles below. Hydrogen sulphide gas bubbles up
from oil deposits in the earth’s crust.
It mixes with oxygen and the water, and forms sulphuric acid. These are not the sort of conditions in which you would expect to find fish, yet these cave mollies seem to thrive
despite the acid and the low levels of oxygen.
in that cave, humans have to wear full body suits and respirators because even the air contains acidic droplets.
On January 22, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Very interesting article. Thanks for sharing.
On January 23, 2009 at 12:12 am
Quite amazing really. Makes one think how different life could be out there when down here is it so varied and extreme.
On January 23, 2009 at 4:42 am
And to think were alone in the universe,crazy.great read thanks.
On January 23, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Great article!
Nice job.
On January 23, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Just letting you know. This article has been copied and pasted onto Bukisa at this link :
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/26249_eight-extreme-situations-youd-never-survive
They writer or thief has also stolen more hot content articles and is making money on them. So unless that’s you who posted the articles, I suggest you contact Bukisa.
I already have and had them reported.
On January 24, 2009 at 9:10 am
Impressive work.
On January 24, 2009 at 9:43 am
I enjoyed reading this, thanks.
On January 24, 2009 at 10:52 am
Well written, but more importantly we must learn from these bacteria strands for self-preservation purposes.
On January 24, 2009 at 10:55 am
i like this stuff it is interesting but i bet we cant find a way to harness the resource or use these abilities on humans for a long long time.
On January 24, 2009 at 11:17 am
Cool article Matt! I always love subject matter like this… However if you don’t mind a little constructive criticism, always proof read, or ask some one to check for you, just to find those simple easily missed mistakes. Re-read and you’ll find what I mean.
On January 24, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Lake Vostok is actually in Antarctica and has been trapped under 4km of ice for at least 500,000 years if not over a million
On January 24, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Interesting article……….. but YOU can live forever – through anything!*
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
On January 24, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Cool read.
On January 24, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Great article!!
On January 25, 2009 at 1:24 am
thats awesome =[]
On January 25, 2009 at 6:08 am
LET THAT BE A LESSON TO THE REST OF YOU BACTERIA. NO MORE COMPLAINTS!! I WON’T STAND FOR IT YOU DAMN SISSIES!!!
On January 26, 2009 at 3:09 am
Pretty amazing that – you learn something new everyday!
On January 26, 2009 at 4:08 am
A well-researched and informative article.
On January 27, 2009 at 9:42 am
wow I never thought about things this way. Well shared and I appericate you writing it.
~youngwriter
On January 28, 2009 at 3:57 am
Very interesting and good reseacherd article.
On January 28, 2009 at 4:39 am
Excellent article
On January 28, 2009 at 8:25 am
There is a ninth call Iron Balls Mcginty a pansy
On January 28, 2009 at 1:52 pm
i farted
On February 15, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Wow, this was a great article.
On February 25, 2009 at 10:34 am
Great article!!! I love it.
On February 27, 2009 at 9:24 am
Great work Matt, i like this article.
On March 16, 2009 at 4:48 am
Wow, very cool information.
On April 9, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Wow..this really makes me think and appreciate the delicacy of life. Good one!
On April 10, 2009 at 9:26 am
Very interesting and informative,well researched.
On April 13, 2009 at 3:30 am
Very insightful! Thanks:)
On May 4, 2009 at 7:57 am
As a point of interest, it’s far more likely that bacteria evolved to cope WITHOUT acid than to cope with it. Half the point of bacterial cell walls it to provide what is essentially a portable acid bath. A feature that is cunningly absent from bacteria living in acid conditions!
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