Microbes from Hell

Patrick Forterre is a leading expert on archaea and thermophiles, and in Microbes from Hell (originally published as Microbes de l enfer by Belin, 2007) he offers an engaging, colorful overview of Archaea: single-celled microorganisms that were initially found in extreme habitats such as Yellowstone s volcanic hot springs. He starts with a history of Archaea s discovery and the conceptual revolution it sparked in our understanding of life s evolution; then, in the second chapter, he provides a personal account of his own search for thermophiles. In chapter three, Mr. Forterre discusses the challenges of living in high-temperature environments along with the ways in which thermophiles have adapted to them. In chapters four and five, he examines their relationships to other organisms as well as their role in the early evolution of life. Last, he presents the latest discoveries in thermophile research."