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Where can bacteria live on Earth?
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Bacteria
A scanning electron micrograph of gram-positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, the cause of tuberculosis and scrofula.
Bacteria are ubiquitous on Earth, inhabiting virtually every accessible environment due to their diverse metabolic capabilities and ability to adapt to various ecological niches.123
They are found in a wide range of locations, including:
- Natural Environments: Bacteria thrive in polar ice, hot springs, deep-sea vents, and on mountaintops. They are also abundant in oceans, soils, and freshwater lakes.23
- Subsurface: They exist deep below the Earth’s surface and within rock or mineral pores.14
- Living Organisms: Bacteria inhabit the bodies of plants and animals, including the digestive tracts of humans.123
- Atmosphere: Low but significant levels of bacteria are present in the atmosphere, particularly when dust is suspended.23
Some bacteria are extremophiles, meaning they have evolved to grow optimally under harsh conditions such as high pressure, extreme pH levels, or temperatures near freezing or boiling.42