This news article reports that scientists recently discovered microbial communities thriving in the slag dumps of the Lake Calumet region of southeast Chicago where the water can reach a pH of 12.8. It describes how slag contributes to elevated pH levels and introduces other alkaline habitats. The article concludes by using the Chicago slag dumps as evidence that life could possibly exist on other planets and moons.
Subject: Biology:Ecology:Symbiotic Relations:Mutualism, Biology:Ecology:Metabolism, Biology:Evolution:Patterns, Biology:Microbiology, Astrobiology Resource Type: Scientific Resources:Overview/Reference Work Grade Level: General Public, High School (9-12), Middle (6-8) Extreme Environments: Alkaline, Altered by Humans