Expedition
One investigates
LIFE IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS
October 18-21, 2000
1a:
THE QUESTION AND THE TEAM
BACKGROUND: In
the past few years scientists have discovered single-cell creatures
living in environments previously assumed to be sterile - in highly
acidic hot spring water above the boiling point, for example, or in
water below the freezing point deep under the Antarctic ice cap.
THE EXPEDITION'S
DRIVING QUESTION: Given that scientists are finding life in these
extremes, where do you think the absolute limits for life actually
are? Put in practical terms, if you were in charge of looking for
life in our solar system, where would you look first? Where would
you look last? Why?
Base Camp Earth
assembled a team to look at this question. Four high school students
and a teacher came to Montana State University to spend three days
investigating life in extreme environments.
