Aug 19, 2008

Bacteria Are Beautiful





These images are from the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone Park. Yellowstone is well-known for it's amazing geological formations, including hot springs, bubbling mud, bacterial pools, geysers, etc.
The following quote is from the NASA website that has these satellite images of the Grand Prismatic Spring.


It is 90 meters (300 feet) across and 50 meters (160 feet) deep. In the center
of the pool the water is 87° C (188° F)—too hot to support life. In the cooler
water along the edges of the pool, however, colonies of thermophilic
(heat-loving) cyano-bacteria and algae thrive. Yellow, orange, and red pigments
are produced by the bacteria as a natural sunscreen. As a result, the pool
displays a spectrum of colors from the bright blue of the center to the orange,
red, and brown algal mats along the edges.

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