Survivors of Heat: The Hidden Secrets of Life Above 122°F | SLICE EARTH | FULL DOC

At temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius, life is lived at the extreme. To survive, certain animals have undergone some strange adaptations. In the hottest zones on the planet, scientists are studying how life has managed to develop between 50 and 120 degrees. In the heart of the Sahara Desert, the silver ant patrols in the middle of the day when the ground temperature exceeds 50 degrees. This ant is the only animal on Earth whose body temperature can rise to 54 degrees. It was in the USA, in the hot springs of Yellowstone, that thermophilic bacteria, bacteria that can survive only at high temperatures, were first observed. To survive, bacteria, like plants, draw their energy from the sun. This bioenergy process is called photosynthesis. Since photosynthesis ceases at 72 degrees, most thermophiles rely on chemosynthesis, using hydrogen and even arsenic. Certain flies lay their eggs in the microbial mat at Yellowstone. Their larvae are capable of withstanding temperatures of over 40 degrees. They even ingest thermophilic bacteria which are deposited in their digestive tubes. These bacteria protect the flies from the mercury contained in the algae on which they feed. It is at the bottom of the ocean that the hottest places on Earth can be found. Hot springs emerge from mid-ocean ridges at more than 300 degrees. In this Hell, hyperthermophilic organisms survive at over 80 degrees! The study of thermophilic or hyperthermophilic organisms has made many biotechnological advances possible. In particular, it is thanks to them if we are now able to amplify DNA and synthesise new molecules for the pharmaceutical industry. Documentary: Life In Hell – Survivors Of Heat Director: Thierry Berrod & Vincent Amouroux Production: Mona Lisa Production & ARTE #documentary #freedocumentary #slicedocumentary #documentaries #ecology #earth #environment #sustainability #climatechange #heat #extreme #nature #wildlife #science #research #biology #desert #ocean #volcano #bacteria #microbes #ants #survival #temperature #planet #habitat #exploration #discovery #adaptation #resilience #innovation #frontier #lifeforms #wild