But believe it or not, some creatures still cling to life. Like Thermus aquaticus, a bacteria that lives in Yellowstone's hot geysers. But less than a week later, temperatures are hot enough to ...

They also sent live samples to a biological collection. One of these bacteria—Thermus aquaticus—was essential to researchers when they were searching for an enzyme that could withstand boiling.

In samples gathered at Obsidian Pool, using PCR and other methods, the team found many new life-forms within Archaea, a vast and anomalous domain distinct from bacteria. The park’s role in ...