NASA-supported researchers have discovered a unique amoeba in California that can reproduce at 145 degrees Fahrenheit, setting a new temperature limit for complex life. Published on Tuesday in the journal Cell, the findings show how complex life defying record heat can survive extreme environments previously thought uninhabitable for such organisms, offering new clues for space science.
How does this amoeba survive extreme heat?
Researchers sequenced the genome of the organism, named Incendiamoeba cascadensis, and found specific genes that stabilize DNA and protect protein folding. The amoeba remains partially active at over 150 degrees Fahrenheit and recovers after brief exposure to 158 degrees Fahrenheit. Scientists say these mechanisms parallel traits found in simpler heat-loving microbes.
Why do these findings matter for space science?
Astrobiologists study extremophiles to understand survival boundaries, which helps guide the search for life on other planets with harsh conditions. Finding durable complex cells shows that living organisms can adapt to severe environments, expanding our understanding of where life might persist in the universe.
