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Discovery of heat-resistant amoeba in California

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2026-09-25 08:02 UTC → 2026-09-26 07:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Biologists have identified a new species of amoeba, ‘Incendiamoeba cascadensis’, in the geothermal waters of Lassen Volcanic National Park, California. The organism, nicknamed the ‘fire amoeba’, has set a new heat-resistance record for eukaryotes by reproducing through cell division at temperatures of 63°C (145°F). Research indicates that while the amoeba stops reproducing above 63°C, it can remain active and move to find food at temperatures up to 64°C. It is capable of surviving brief exposures to 70°C by entering a protective cyst state, though temperatures reaching 80°C prevent recovery. As a predator, the amoeba feeds on bacteria within its extreme habitat. The discovery, supported by NASA and published in the journal Cell, challenges previous scientific assumptions regarding the thermal stability of complex cells with nuclei. Researchers from Syracuse University noted that the organism surpasses the previously accepted 60°C threshold for complex cellular life. Findings from the research period between 2023 and 2025 have identified specific genetic adaptations for DNA repair and protein folding that enable this survival. These findings are noted to have significant implications for astrobiology and the understanding of where complex life might exist in extreme environments on Earth and other planets.

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