This two-minute sound segment describes strain 121, which is a microorganism that can grow at very high temperatures, using iron in a way that is unusual for most life forms. This professor says that strain 121 lives in environments known as hydrothermal vents where the water typically contains a lot of hydrogen and iron. Strain 121 combines hydrogen and iron in order to gain energy to support its growth. The temperatures can range up to 350 degrees centigrade but it is an environment that strain 121 enjoys. It can grow at a temperature higher than any other life form has ever been known to exist. The discovery of strain 121 could affect our search for life on other planets and our understanding of how life evolved on earth. This site is from an archive of a daily radio program called Pulse of the Planet, which provides its listeners with a portrait of Planet Earth, tracking the rhythms of nature, culture and science worldwide and blending interviews and extraordinary natural sound. The site also provides a written transcript of the broadcast.
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