Living Organisms in Hot Springs

HOT PURSUIT

Expert detects rare life-forms

By LAWRENCE MOWER
REVIEW-JOURNAL

UNLV microbiologist and assistant professor Brian Hedlund handles a vial in an anaerobic chamber in his lab, used to house organisms that can survive only in certain environments. Hedlund won an award from the National Science Foundation to continue research on Nevada's hot springs.
Photo by Clint Karlsen.

Many of Nevada's hot springs know Brian Hedlund by now.

The 34-year-old microbiologist and assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has been extracting small amounts of water and mud from the boiling springs for three years.
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The only problem is, Hedlund still doesn't know the hot springs, or, rather, what's in them.

After researching the state's hottest springs, he has found several groups of microorganisms -- single-celled creatures that can be seen only with a microscope -- that defy classification in the scientific universe.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Sep-29-Fri-2006/news/9917570.html