EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Archaea are microorganisms that define the limits of life on Earth. They were originally discovered and described in extreme environments, such as hydrothermal vents and terrestrial hot springs. They were also found in a diverse range of highly saline, acidic, and anaerobic environments.

Detailed explanation-2: -Archaea are famous for their love of living in extreme environments. If it’s super hot (more than 100° Celsius), freezing, acidic, alkaline, salty, deep in the ocean, even bombarded by gamma or UV radiation, there’s probably life there, and that life is probably archaeal species.

Detailed explanation-3: -Archaea were initially classified as bacteria, receiving the name archaebacteria (in the Archaebacteria kingdom), but this term has fallen out of use. Archaeal cells have unique properties separating them from the other two domains, Bacteria and Eukaryota. Archaea are further divided into multiple recognized phyla.

Detailed explanation-4: -Archaea that live in extremely hot environments are called thermophiles. Archaea that produce methane are called methanogens. Archaea are known for living in extreme environments, but they also can be found in common environments, like soil.