Comments on: Earth's most extreme lifeforms http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:28:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221190 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221190 pah! find me an honest man in congress and I'll be impressed pah! find me an honest man in congress and I’ll be impressed

]]> By: gwax http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221193 gwax Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221193 Microbes are great and all but, if you're interested in cool extremophiles, allow me to bring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade" rel="nofollow">Tardigrades</a> (aka. water bears) to your attention. Tardigrades are one of, if not the, most hardy and extremophilic animals found on Earth. Quoting wikipedia: "Water bears are able to survive in extreme environments that would kill almost any other animal. They can survive temperatures close to absolute zero, temperatures as high as 151°C (303°F), 1,000 times more radiation than any other animal, nearly a decade without water, and can also survive in a vacuum like that found in space." Microbes are great and all but, if you’re interested in cool extremophiles, allow me to bring Tardigrades (aka. water bears) to your attention. Tardigrades are one of, if not the, most hardy and extremophilic animals found on Earth.

Quoting wikipedia: “Water bears are able to survive in extreme environments that would kill almost any other animal. They can survive temperatures close to absolute zero, temperatures as high as 151°C (303°F), 1,000 times more radiation than any other animal, nearly a decade without water, and can also survive in a vacuum like that found in space.”

]]> By: Antinous http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-222480 Antinous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-222480 Note from Phyllis Diller: Nature couldn't possible abhor a vacuum as much as I do. Note from Phyllis Diller:

Nature couldn’t possible abhor a vacuum as much as I do.

]]> By: Metostopholes http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221463 Metostopholes Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221463 I happened to see a bit of some show on the Discovery Channel where they were talking about glacial Ice Worms, which are quite interesting. They live at constantly near-0°C, and they actually melt if above 5°C. Maybe that's not very hardy, but it's pretty damn cool. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_worm Then they abruptly started talking about some climbing expedition, and I lost interest. I happened to see a bit of some show on the Discovery Channel where they were talking about glacial Ice Worms, which are quite interesting. They live at constantly near-0°C, and they actually melt if above 5°C. Maybe that’s not very hardy, but it’s pretty damn cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_worm

Then they abruptly started talking about some climbing expedition, and I lost interest.

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221221 Stefan Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221221 #4: You meant to comment on another article, right? Unless you've got an axe to grind and want everyone to know it. #4: You meant to comment on another article, right?

Unless you’ve got an axe to grind and want everyone to know it.

]]> By: Enochrewt http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221223 Enochrewt Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221223 #4: [Klaxons Sound] Alert! Alert! You are entering unnecessarily controversial territory! TURN BACK NOW! #4: [Klaxons Sound] Alert! Alert! You are entering unnecessarily controversial territory! TURN BACK NOW!

]]> By: Peter K. http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221225 Peter K. Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221225 @ #4: I can't see how this proves that human activities aren't influencing the climate in significant ways. It also sounds like you're blurring the confusing the survivability of a few hardy or extreme-adapted organisms with the balance of every ecological system on the entire planet. Most likely no matter what happens to the biosphere <i><b>some</b></i> form of life will survive. The question is what proportion of currently existing vertebrate, macroscopic, or even multi-cellular organisms will adjust to the transition? @ #4:
I can’t see how this proves that human activities aren’t influencing the climate in significant ways.

It also sounds like you’re blurring the confusing the survivability of a few hardy or extreme-adapted organisms with the balance of every ecological system on the entire planet.

Most likely no matter what happens to the biosphere some form of life will survive. The question is what proportion of currently existing vertebrate, macroscopic, or even multi-cellular organisms will adjust to the transition?

]]> By: merreborn http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221226 merreborn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221226 <blockquote>The headline is a bit off though, reading: "The most extreme-life forms in the universe." Of course, studying these unusual organisms could give scientists insight into what life might exist on other planets, but all of the creatures in this article are found right here at home</blockquote>Really??!! Please, tell me "Miss Universe" is still actually the most attractive woman in the universe!

The headline is a bit off though, reading: “The most extreme-life forms in the universe.” Of course, studying these unusual organisms could give scientists insight into what life might exist on other planets, but all of the creatures in this article are found right here at home

Really??!! Please, tell me “Miss Universe” is still actually the most attractive woman in the universe!

]]> By: Antinous http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221227 Antinous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221227 Thread hijacker thwarted. Sorry if I've orphaned everybody else's comments. Thread hijacker thwarted. Sorry if I’ve orphaned everybody else’s comments.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221228 EH Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221228 I'll show you controvery. Nothing is more extreme than this dude: http://english.pravda.ru/img/idb/photo/6-11.jpg I’ll show you controvery. Nothing is more extreme than this dude: http://english.pravda.ru/img/idb/photo/6-11.jpg

]]> By: Xopher http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221235 Xopher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221235 Merreborn...sorry to tell you this, but she's not even the most attractive <i>human</i> woman in the universe. Or the galaxy. Or on the planet, in my own opinion, but that's a little more controversial. Merreborn…sorry to tell you this, but she’s not even the most attractive human woman in the universe. Or the galaxy.

Or on the planet, in my own opinion, but that’s a little more controversial.

]]> By: Contrasoma http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221239 Contrasoma Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221239 #10: Alright, who gave Rob Liefeld a job in genetic engineering? #10: Alright, who gave Rob Liefeld a job in genetic engineering?

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221246 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221246 I'm waiting for confirmation of extremophile life off-world. I really, really want to see how the bible thumpers handle it. And the koran whackers and torah tossers too. I’m waiting for confirmation of extremophile life off-world. I really, really want to see how the bible thumpers handle it. And the koran whackers and torah tossers too.

]]> By: GregLondon http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221248 GregLondon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221248 eh@10, photoshop eh@10, photoshop

]]> By: noen http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221511 noen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221511 Metostopholes -- ever see the movie "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379557/">Touching the Void</a>"? That'll hold your attention. Metostopholes — ever see the movie “Touching the Void“? That’ll hold your attention.

]]> By: Peter K. http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221274 Peter K. Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221274 @ #12: Not sure why extremophile vs. non-extremophile off world life makes a difference. But depending on your definition of "bible thumper" they've <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2008/05/14/popes-astronomer-on.html" rel="nofollow">already covered it</a>. @ #12: Not sure why extremophile vs. non-extremophile off world life makes a difference.
But depending on your definition of “bible thumper” they’ve already covered it.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221285 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221285 the vatican buys brains, I'm looking forward to being amused by the dull witted evangelists the vatican buys brains, I’m looking forward to being amused by the dull witted evangelists

]]> By: Marilyn Terrell http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221293 Marilyn Terrell Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221293 Yeah, extreme places like the Altiplano in South America with the largest salt flats and bubbling lava, and which looks like some other planet in these National Geo photos by George Steinmetz: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/07/bolivias-new-order/steinmetz-photography Yeah, extreme places like the Altiplano in South America with the largest salt flats and bubbling lava, and which looks like some other planet in these National Geo photos by George Steinmetz:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/07/bolivias-new-order/steinmetz-photography

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221855 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221855 DIE EVIL SPAMLING DIE!!!! DIE EVIL SPAMLING DIE!!!!

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221860 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221860 that was quick! hardly a trace of smelly green slime even. that was quick! hardly a trace of smelly green slime even.

]]> By: Antinous http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221863 Antinous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221863 Gone to that undiscovered database from whose bourn no spammer returns. Did you get a date before I nuked it? Gone to that undiscovered database from whose bourn no spammer returns. Did you get a date before I nuked it?

]]> By: drose2500 http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221869 drose2500 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221869 wait wait wait if there is an ocean under jupiters ice and its -90degrees then how is the water not ice also lol? wait wait wait if there is an ocean under jupiters ice and its -90degrees then how is the water not ice also lol?

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221871 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221871 it's called "physics" and "chemistry" it’s called “physics” and “chemistry”

]]> By: Teresa Nielsen Hayden / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-222383 Teresa Nielsen Hayden / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-222383 Dang, what is it about this thread that attracts weird hostile anonymous comments? There are strange lifeforms lurking beneath the surface, down in the MT4 GUI. Dang, what is it about this thread that attracts weird hostile anonymous comments? There are strange lifeforms lurking beneath the surface, down in the MT4 GUI.

]]> By: noen http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221366 noen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221366 We know that there is water (ice) on Mars and we also now know that the <a href="http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=scientists-say-martian-so">Martian soil could support life.</a> It would no longer surprise me if we did find life on Mars. While everyone here is nerdy and sciency and all that, discovering life on Mars would truly be the event of the millennium. I think it would cause a good deal of social upheaval. We know that there is water (ice) on Mars and we also now know that the Martian soil could support life. It would no longer surprise me if we did find life on Mars. While everyone here is nerdy and sciency and all that, discovering life on Mars would truly be the event of the millennium. I think it would cause a good deal of social upheaval.

]]> By: Antinous http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221372 Antinous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221372 I, for one, welcome our new Martian asparagus. What if they had said Brussels sprouts? I, for one, welcome our new Martian asparagus. What if they had said Brussels sprouts?

]]> By: Xopher http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221655 Xopher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221655 Noen, I hope you're right and I hope it does. Noen, I hope you’re right and I hope it does.

]]> By: paulm http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-222449 paulm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-222449 Note to Wikipedia: Space isn't a vacuum. Atoms just far apart. Note to Wikipedia:

Space isn’t a vacuum. Atoms just far apart.

]]> By: Camilo http://boingboing.net/2008/06/27/earths-most-extreme.html#comment-221180 Camilo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-221180 Well, duh. Life always finds a way... At least thats what the hollywood movies say. No, really, cool! Well, duh.

Life always finds a way…

At least thats what the hollywood movies say.

No, really, cool!

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