Photo of an extremophile water bear captured using an electron microscope.
Extremophiles are creatures which are capable of living in extreme environments beyond what one might imagine are the limits of life. Extremophiles have attracted attention from the scientific community because of their potential to exist in the most extreme environments in outer space. One specific type of extremophiles, halophiles, are able to survive in highly saline environments with the ability to thrive in places such as the Dead Sea. These organisms are able to balance the salt levels in their cells in order to survive extremely salty conditions. Another type of extremophile, the thermophile, is capable of living in the extremely hot temperatures upwards of even 60 degrees Celsius. Extremophiles could be the most important organisms we have here on Earth for the field of astrobiology because they demonstrate how life might exist in extreme environments on other planets. Adaptations shown by extremophiles could potentially be used by scientists here on Earth for biotechnological improvements in salt-tolerance and heat-resistance. More extremophiles are likely to be discovered in the coming years leading to even more developments in the field of astrobiology.