Katarina Zimmer

Scientists have discovered that the devil worm, Halicephalobus mephisto, can survive more than a kilometre beneath the Earth's surface in hot, dark groundwater. First found in South Africa's Beatrix gold mine, the nematode lives among microbial communities and can reproduce through parthenogenesis. Laboratory studies suggest that its preference for temperatures around 37°C and its unusually abundant heat-shock proteins help it withstand extreme conditions, while a temperature-sensitive energy-production molecule explains its inactivity in cooler environments. The findings indicate that complex multicellular life is far more widespread in the deep biosphere than previously thought, and that subterranean organisms may have persisted for millions of years and potentially help life recover after surface catastrophes.

Arctic ground squirrels’ ability to hibernate at subfreezing body temperatures is helping scientists uncover ways to slow human metabolism for emergency medical applications. Research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and other institutions has identified metabolic triggers such as adenosine and neural circuits that could induce hibernation-like states in non-hibernating animals, with potential applications in treating heart attacks, strokes, traumatic injuries, and protecting organs for transplantation. Studies also suggest iodide surges during hibernation may protect tissues from ischemia-reperfusion injury, leading to early-stage clinical trials in humans. Additional research explores how squirrels preserve muscle, regulate appetite, and resist damage, with long-term possibilities including supporting astronauts on deep-space missions.