This magazine article introduces the Rio Tinto - a polluted, acidic river in Spain - and its significance in the Mars Analog Research and Technology Experiment (MARTE). As part of NASA’s search for Mars analogs, the blood-red river is an expedition target to drill for core samples and test satellite links in preparation for remote robots that might survey the red planet. The article explains that extremophiles inhabiting the Rio Tinto might be used as model systems to test for both subsurface life on Mars and sulfur-based life on Europa. It includes images of sulfide minerals and microbes found in the river, links to supplementary resources, and an MP3 audio-to-text option.
Subject: Biology:Ecology:Symbiotic Relations:Mutualism, Biology:Ecology:Metabolism, Biology:Biogeochemistry, Astrobiology, Microbiology Resource Type: Scientific Resources:Overview/Reference Work Grade Level: General Public, College Lower (13-14), High School (9-12), Middle (6-8) Extreme Environments: Altered by Humans, Acidic Topics: Biosphere:Ecology:Habitats:Freshwater, Biosphere:Ecology:Metabolism, Biosphere:Biogeochemistry, Microbiology, Ecology:Abiotic Relations, Biosphere:AstrobiologyKeywords: astrobiology, eukaryotic extremophiles
