extremophile
/ɪkˈstriːməˌfaɪl/
Definition
An organism that thrives in extreme physical or geochemical conditions that would be lethal to most other life forms.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'extremus' (outermost, extreme) and the Greek 'phile' (loving). It was coined in the late 20th century to describe microorganisms discovered in ecological niches previously thought to be uninhabitable.
In the news
The term appears in the site's categorization for research on life in extreme environments, relevant to astrobiology and understanding how organisms might survive on other planets. It highlights the scientific interest in studying how biology persists under conditions like high radiation or unusual pressure.
NASA Spaceline Current Awareness List #1,204 12 June 2026 (Space Life Science Research Results)
Read the full article ↗Astrobiology News