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Scientists find an amoeba that can keep dividing at 145°F
A newly described single-celled predator is pushing the known temperature limit for complex life into hot-tub-from-hell territory.
Researchers discovered a new amoeba species in hot springs at Lassen Volcanic National Park that can still undergo cell division at 63°C / 145.4°F and remain active at even higher temperatures.
Why this is wild
This is a eukaryote—a cell with a nucleus, like animals, plants and fungi—not a simple bacterium. Its ability to function at these temperatures pushes the known thermal boundary for complex life.
The bigger thing hiding underneath
The organism may help scientists understand what biological adaptations let complex cells survive extreme heat, with implications for evolution and astrobiology.
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