Researchers discovered a new amoeba species in hot springs at Lassen Volcanic National Park that can still undergo cell division at 63°C / 145.4°F and remain active at even higher temperatures.

Why this is wild

This is a eukaryote—a cell with a nucleus, like animals, plants and fungi—not a simple bacterium. Its ability to function at these temperatures pushes the known thermal boundary for complex life.

The bigger thing hiding underneath

The organism may help scientists understand what biological adaptations let complex cells survive extreme heat, with implications for evolution and astrobiology.