Boiling thermal pools are unique ecosystems to study microbial ecology, biogeochemistry and evolution, because they are physically isolated from other ecosystems, they are relatively biologically simple, and they are among the most hostile environments known. The water column of boiling hot springs represents an extreme environment that has not been previously explored for viruses or microbes. ...

Following recent interest in constructing large self-deployable structures made of reinforced polymer materials, this paper presents a detailed study of viscoelastic effects in folding, stowage, and deployment of tape-springs which often act as deployment actuators in space structures. Folding and stowage behavior at different temperatures and rates are studied. It is found that the peak load i...

Geothermal soils near Amphitheater Springs in Yellowstone National Park were characterized by high temperatures (up to 70 degrees C), high heavy metal content, low pH values (down to pH 2.7), sparse vegetation, and limited organic carbon. From these soils we cultured 16 fungal species. Two of these species were thermophilic, and six were thermotolerant. We cultured only three of these species f...