Gemsbok
Gemsbok (Oryx gazella) in sand dunes, Namibia (© Sergey Gorshkov/Minden)
Surrounded by a sea of sand
'Life, uh, finds a way.' While Dr. Malcom from 'Jurassic Park' was referring to dinosaur reproduction, his sentiment also applies to how life can be found in some of the most inhospitable places on Earth. Extremophiles are organisms that can live in extreme environments of heat, cold, or other conditions seemingly beyond what life can adapt to. Think penguins and polar bears in the frigid Arctic. Camels that can survive months in a scalding desert sans a single sip of water. Microscopic ocean organisms that thrive in environments of extreme acidity, temperature and pressure.
© Sergey Gorshkov/Minden