Links
Science at Great Salt Lake—Westminster College
www.westminstercollege.edu/gsl/lake_microbes/
Microbiologist Bonnie Baxter studies the microorganisms that survive and thrive in the extremely salty water of the Great Salt Lake. Learn about her work and lab at the group website.
U.S. Department of Energy Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
www.wipp.energy.gov
The waste isolation plant in New Mexico serves two purposes—providing scientists with access to ancient salt crystals, and providing a place for the U.S. Department of Energy to store old nuclear waste. Find out more about the plant at this website.
Evolution: Library: Permian-Triassic Extinction
www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/03/2/l_032_02.html
Learn about the Permian-Triassic Extinction, which some microorganisms survived while stuck in salt crystals.
Astrobiology: The Living Universe—Extremophiles
library.thinkquest.org/C003763/index.php?page=origin07
Check out scientist interviews, interactive games, simulations, and more at this website from ThinkQuest.
Books
Life at the Limits: Organisms in Extreme Environments
by David A. Wharton. Cambridge University Press, 2007.
Extinction: How Life on Earth Nearly Ended 250 Million Years Ago
by Douglas H. Erwin. Princeton University Press, 2006.
Life on the Edge: Amazing Creatures Thriving in Extreme Environments
by Michael Gross. Basic Books, 2001.
Articles
"Ancient Bacterium Is Reported Found"
The New York Times, April 30, 2009.
www.nytimes.com/2000/10/19/science/19SPOR.html
"A Bit of Salt, a Trace of Life"
by Mark Derewicz. Endeavors, May 14, 2008.
research.unc.edu/endeavors/spr2008/bit_of_salt.php
"Want to Find Evidence of Life on Another Planet? Look for Cellulose"
by Nancy Atkinson. Universe Today, March 31, 2008.
www.universetoday.com/2008/03/31/want-to-find-evidence-of-life-on-another-planet-look-for-cellulose/
"Old Cellulose Found in NM Salt Crystals"
by Matt Mygatt. USA Today, April 14, 2008.
www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2008-04-14-3176429990_x.htm
"Alive...After 250 Million Years"
BBC News, October 18, 2000.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/978774.stm
Disclaimer
Any opinions, findings and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation, a cofunder of this site.
|
