ScienceAugust 23, 2026
halophilic
ha-lo-FIL-ik
Definition
Describing an organism, typically a microorganism, that thrives in or requires high concentrations of salt for growth.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek words 'hals' (salt) and 'philein' (to love). It entered English as a scientific term in the 20th century to describe salt-loving organisms.
In the news
In the article, the term describes archaea that build biopolymer reserves, highlighting the specific environmental conditions where these microorganisms accumulate carbon storage.
A marine worm with no mouth and no gut makes its own enzyme for digesting the bioplastic its skin bacteria build up, and the same kind of enzyme turned up in 66 more animal species across nine phyla, from a sponge to an earthworm to a springtail
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com