Scientists are discovering how Earth’s earliest life forms learned to survive with oxygen by studying the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park. Two scientists at Montana State University, Bill Inskeep and Mensur Dlakic, are looking at microscopic life in two hot springs – Conch Spring and Octopus Spring. These springs are special because their waters reach 190°F (88°C), where life thrives. “When oxygen started to increase in the environment, these heat-loving microbes were likely important in the origin of life,” explains Inskeep, who has studied these tiny life forms in Yellowstone since 1999. Inside these hot springs, thin threads called … Continue reading Yellowstone Springs Reveal 10 Ancient Microbes That Helped Life Survive Earth’s Oxygen Revolution