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The discovery made on Deception Island shows a microorganism that survives in a fumarole surrounded by ice and snow and expands what is known about the limits of life.
Brazilian researchers identified a new species of archaea in an active volcano in Antarctica, in a region where the temperature reaches close to 100°C even surrounded by ice and snow. The discovery was made on Deception Island and adds a rare piece to the puzzle of how life can exist in extreme conditions.
The microorganism, described as a hyperthermophilic archaea, was found only in the hottest part of the fumarole analyzed. In just a few centimeters, the temperature drops drastically, and this abrupt transition became an important part of the study. The research was led by microbiologist Amanda Bendia, a professor at the Institute of Oceanography at the University of São Paulo (USP), with support from the Serrapilheira Institute.
The work also draws attention because this type of archaea had been recorded, until now, only in deep ocean environments. This becomes the first record in a polar surface environment, which expands the known range of these primitive organisms.
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A life that resists where almost nothing else can
Archaea are among the oldest living beings on the planet. In this case, the new species was located in fumaroles, openings in the ground where hot volcanic gases escape. Instead of relying on sunlight, it obtains energy from chemical substances present in the environment.
According to the Institute of Oceanography at USP, the sample was collected in an area where the combination of extreme heat, pressure, and toxic gases creates a hostile scenario for most known forms of life.
The 100°C point was just a few centimeters from the ice
The dynamics of the location itself surprised the team. Samples were taken at points around 100°C, 50°C, and 0°C, which allowed for comparison of the microorganisms present in each temperature range. The new species appeared only in the hottest area.
“This hyperthermophilic archaea we described is only found specifically in the 100-degree fumarole. A few centimeters to the side, it is no longer there,” stated the researcher in the released material. She also explained that she expected to find a more continuous temperature gradient, but the extremely cold air causes the heat to dissipate very quickly.
DNA revealed clues about survival in the extreme environment
After field collection, the team extracted DNA from the sample and used genetic analysis tools to reconstruct the microorganism’s genome. The goal was to understand which characteristics might be linked to survival in an environment with high temperature and the presence of toxic gases.
The scientific expeditions took place over different trips to Deception Island, where Amanda Bendia has been four times. The researcher mentioned that she had imagined, since her doctorate, that the fumaroles could select hyperthermophilic microorganisms, even in a polar environment.
The name of the new species honors a Brazilian pioneer
The archaeon was named Pyroantarcticum pellizari, in honor of microbiologist Vivian Pellizari, a reference in Brazil for studies of microorganisms living in extreme conditions. She was Amanda’s advisor at USP and also participated in the research, alongside Ana Carolina de Araújo Butarelli and Francielli Vilela Peres.
Besides recording a new species, the study helps expand understanding of the limits of life and how organisms can adapt to unlikely environments. This type of knowledge is also used as a reference in astrobiological research, which investigates the possibility of life beyond Earth in similar scenarios.
In an environment where ice, snow, and volcanic heat coexist side by side, the Brazilian discovery shows that there is still much to be revealed in Antarctica. If you enjoy science that surprises, it’s worth following the upcoming expeditions and commenting on what caught your attention in this discovery.
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