Modern methods and approaches, such as the analysis of molecular
sequences to infer evolutionary relationships among organisms, have
provided vast new sets of data to further our understanding ofliving
organisms, but there remain enigmas in the biological world that will
keep scientists working and thinking for decades. Microorganisms by
virtue of their small size and almost unbounded diversity provide ample
examples of intriguing mysteries that are being challenged with all of
the techniques the modern scientific arsenal can provide. One whole
arena of this battle to resolve puzzling mysteries about various
microorganisms is the almost unbelievable ability of many
micro-organisms to live in extreme environments. Whether the challenge
is extreme heat, cold, pressure, hyper- salinity, alkalinity or acidity,
some micro-organisms live now where no life might seem possible. This
fascinating state of affairs is the context for this present volume
edited by Joseph Seckbach. This Volume is a compilation of many of the
especially interesting questions and biological challenges that arise in
the consideration of microorganisms in general and the extremophiles in
particular.