The Goldilocks Zone
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/livingthings/microbes_goldilocks.html

Tony Phillips, NASA


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This on-line news article introduces the Goldilocks Zone, an area of space adequate for the survival of life. Initially believed to be a remarkably small region of space that didn't even include the whole Earth, recent discoveries of extremophiles found thriving in unlikely habitats are convincing scientists to change their definition. Scientists Elena Pikuta and Richard Hoover are highlighted for their discovery of the new species Tindallia californiensis and Spirochaeta americana in the extreme environment of Mono Lake, California.

This resource is referenced here:
Subject: Biology:Ecology:Symbiotic Relations:Mutualism, Biology:Astrobiology, Microbiology
Resource Type: Scientific Resources:Overview/Reference Work
Grade Level: General Public, College Lower (13-14), Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
Extreme Environments: High Radiation, Anhydrous, Altered by Humans, High Pressure, Anoxic, Extremely Cold, Alkaline, Hypersaline, Acidic, Extremely Hot