extremeophile
/ɪkˈstriːməfaɪl/
Definition
An organism that thrives in physical or geochemical conditions that are detrimental to most life on Earth.
Etymology
The word is a hybrid construction combining the Latin 'extremus' (outermost or furthest) with the Greek suffix '-phile' (loving or having an affinity for). It entered scientific terminology in the 20th century to describe microorganisms capable of surviving in hostile habitats.
In the news
The term is used here as a categorical tag for research related to life forms that survive in harsh, non-traditional environments. It highlights the focus of astrobiology on identifying how life might persist in extreme conditions elsewhere in the universe.
New Deadline For NASA Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) Announcement for Partnership Proposals (AFPP)
Read the full article ↗Astrobiology Web