Life Finds A Way

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