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Extreme 'Fire Amoeba' Breaks Heat Tolerance Record! (2025)

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Extreme Fire Amoeba Shatters Heat Tolerance Record in Lassen Volcanic Park

In a study shared as a preprint on bioRxiv, researchers reported discovering a newly identified single-celled organism, Incendiamoeba cascadensis, meaning "fire amoeba from the Cascades," in hot springs at California's Lassen Volcanic National Park between 2023 and 2025.

In a study shared as a preprint on bioRxiv, researchers reported discovering a newly identified single-celled organism, Incendiamoeba cascadensis, meaning "fire amoeba from the Cascades," in hot springs at California's Lassen Volcanic National Park between 2023 and 2025.

Incendiamoeba cascadensis is classified as an obligate thermophile because it requires temperatures of at least 42°C to begin growth. Optimal growth occurs between 55 and 57°C, and it does not grow below 42°C in laboratory conditions.

Incendiamoeba cascadensis is classified as an obligate thermophile because it requires temperatures of at least 42°C to begin growth. Optimal growth occurs between 55 and 57°C, and it does not grow below 42°C in laboratory conditions.

According to researchers, the organism can grow and divide at temperatures up to 63°C (145°F), setting a new record for the upper temperature limit across all eukaryotic lifeforms and surpassing the previous record of 57°C held by other amoebae.

According to researchers, the organism can grow and divide at temperatures up to 63°C (145°F), setting a new record for the upper temperature limit across all eukaryotic lifeforms and surpassing the previous record of 57°C held by other amoebae.

In their study, the amoeba remained active and motile at 64°C and formed protective cysts at 66°C to survive extreme conditions. It also formed cysts at 25°C, stopped moving at 70°C, but could revive upon cooling, and ceased activity only at 80°C.

In their study, the amoeba remained active and motile at 64°C and formed protective cysts at 66°C to survive extreme conditions. It also formed cysts at 25°C, stopped moving at 70°C, but could revive upon cooling, and ceased activity only at 80°C.

Genomic analysis revealed that Incendiamoeba cascadensis has evolved adaptations, including expanded families of heat-resistant proteins, heat-shock chaperones, rapid signaling pathways, and enhanced heat-response mechanisms, that enable it to maintain cellular integrity at high temperatures.

Genomic analysis revealed that Incendiamoeba cascadensis has evolved adaptations, including expanded families of heat-resistant proteins, heat-shock chaperones, rapid signaling pathways, and enhanced heat-response mechanisms, that enable it to maintain cellular integrity at high temperatures.

Similar DNA sequences to Incendiamoeba cascadensis were detected in environmental samples from Yellowstone National Park and New Zealand's Taupo Volcanic Zone, suggesting that related thermophilic organisms may be more widespread in geothermal systems around the world.

Similar DNA sequences to Incendiamoeba cascadensis were detected in environmental samples from Yellowstone National Park and New Zealand's Taupo Volcanic Zone, suggesting that related thermophilic organisms may be more widespread in geothermal systems around the world.

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A newly identified single-celled organism named Incendiamoeba cascadensis, meaning fire amoeba from the Cascades, was discovered in hot springs at Lassen Volcanic National Park in California between 2023 and 2025 by researchers including H. Beryl Rappaport and Angela Oliverio.

A newly identified single-celled organism named Incendiamoeba cascadensis, meaning fire amoeba from the Cascades, was discovered in hot springs at Lassen Volcanic National Park in California between 2023 and 2025 by researchers including H. Beryl Rappaport and Angela Oliverio.

The organism can grow and divide at temperatures up to 63 degrees Celsius or 145 degrees Fahrenheit, establishing a new record for the upper temperature limit across all eukaryotic lifeforms and surpassing the previous record of 57 degrees Celsius held by other amoebae.

The organism can grow and divide at temperatures up to 63 degrees Celsius or 145 degrees Fahrenheit, establishing a new record for the upper temperature limit across all eukaryotic lifeforms and surpassing the previous record of 57 degrees Celsius held by other amoebae.

Incendiamoeba cascadensis is classified as an obligate thermophile because it requires temperatures of at least 42 degrees Celsius to begin growth, with optimal growth occurring between 55 and 57 degrees Celsius, and it does not grow below 42 degrees Celsius in laboratory conditions.

Incendiamoeba cascadensis is classified as an obligate thermophile because it requires temperatures of at least 42 degrees Celsius to begin growth, with optimal growth occurring between 55 and 57 degrees Celsius, and it does not grow below 42 degrees Celsius in laboratory conditions.

The amoeba remained active and motile at 64 degrees Celsius and formed protective cysts at 66 degrees Celsius to survive extreme conditions. It also formed cysts at 25 degrees Celsius, stopped moving at 70 degrees Celsius but could revive when cooled, and only ceased activity at 80 degrees.

The amoeba remained active and motile at 64 degrees Celsius and formed protective cysts at 66 degrees Celsius to survive extreme conditions. It also formed cysts at 25 degrees Celsius, stopped moving at 70 degrees Celsius but could revive when cooled, and only ceased activity at 80 degrees.

Genomic analysis revealed that Incendiamoeba cascadensis has evolved adaptations including expanded families of heat-resistant proteins, heat-shock chaperones, rapid signaling pathways and enhanced heat-response mechanisms that enable it to maintain cellular integrity at high temperatures.

Genomic analysis revealed that Incendiamoeba cascadensis has evolved adaptations including expanded families of heat-resistant proteins, heat-shock chaperones, rapid signaling pathways and enhanced heat-response mechanisms that enable it to maintain cellular integrity at high temperatures.

The discovery of Incendiamoeba cascadensis surviving at 176 degrees Fahrenheit completely demolishes previous assumptions about the limits of complex life. This amoeba's ability to remain active at 145 degrees and revive after exposure to 158 degrees proves eukaryotic organisms possess far greater adaptability than scientists believed possible. The finding fundamentally reshapes the search for extraterrestrial life by expanding the range of habitable environments.

The discovery of Incendiamoeba cascadensis surviving at 176 degrees Fahrenheit completely demolishes previous assumptions about the limits of complex life. This amoeba's ability to remain active at 145 degrees and revive after exposure to 158 degrees proves eukaryotic organisms possess far greater adaptability than scientists believed possible. The finding fundamentally reshapes the search for extraterrestrial life by expanding the range of habitable environments.

While the fire amoeba sets impressive records, its survival depends on highly specialized adaptations like protective cyst formation and heat-shock proteins that most eukaryotes lack. The organism's narrow temperature requirements — refusing to grow below 107 degrees and dying at 176 degrees — actually demonstrate how constrained complex life remains compared to hardy prokaryotes that thrive at 252 degrees.

While the fire amoeba sets impressive records, its survival depends on highly specialized adaptations like protective cyst formation and heat-shock proteins that most eukaryotes lack. The organism's narrow temperature requirements — refusing to grow below 107 degrees and dying at 176 degrees — actually demonstrate how constrained complex life remains compared to hardy prokaryotes that thrive at 252 degrees.

Fire Amoeba Sets Record Surviving 145°F Hot Springs

Science & technology

The discovery of Incendiamoeba cascadensis completely demolishes previous assumptions about the limits of complex life. This amoeba's ability to remain active at 145°F and revive after exposure to 158°F proves eukaryotic organisms possess far greater adaptability than scientists believed possible. The finding fundamentally reshapes the search for extraterrestrial life by expanding the range of habitable environments, fueling hope for extraterrestrial biology and sustainable tech in extreme climates.

The discovery of Incendiamoeba cascadensis completely demolishes previous assumptions about the limits of complex life. This amoeba's ability to remain active at 145°F and revive after exposure to 158°F proves eukaryotic organisms possess far greater adaptability than scientists believed possible. The finding fundamentally reshapes the search for extraterrestrial life by expanding the range of habitable environments, fueling hope for extraterrestrial biology and sustainable tech in extreme climates.

H. B. Beryl Rappaport

Bluesky Social

@hbrappap.bsky.social on Bluesky

While the fire amoeba sets impressive records, its survival depends on highly specialized adaptations, such as protective cyst formation and heat-shock proteins, that most eukaryotes lack. The "fire amoeba" survives extreme heat in one lab-prepped environment — but its real-world ubiquity, resilience and ecological role remain unclear. Survival in boiling springs doesn't guarantee adaptability elsewhere, nor does it prove life under all extreme planetary conditions.

While the fire amoeba sets impressive records, its survival depends on highly specialized adaptations, such as protective cyst formation and heat-shock proteins, that most eukaryotes lack. The "fire amoeba" survives extreme heat in one lab-prepped environment — but its real-world ubiquity, resilience and ecological role remain unclear. Survival in boiling springs doesn't guarantee adaptability elsewhere, nor does it prove life under all extreme planetary conditions.

Fire Amoeba Sets Record Surviving 145°F Hot Springs

Fire Amoeba Sets Record Surviving 145°F Hot Springs

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Fire Amoeba Sets Record Surviving 145°F Hot Springs

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