SLIMEs

Now here is something I don't think I have encountered before but could be very interesting to use in the classroom. In the last 10 years or so they have found what they call SLIMEs - subsurface lithoautotrophic microbrial ecosystems. This is an assemblage of bacteria and fungi that live deep in the earth's crust in igneous rock (they live two miles or more below the surface). They form an independent ecosystem on the surface and obtain their energy from inorganic chemicals. What a way to show the diversity of life as well as its ability to adapt to any and all environments. Definitely builds off the whole extremophile discussion. Just noting this here as I read The Future of Life.