In the brutally hot landscape adjacent to the Dallol volcano in Ethiopia, there are geothermal pools with conditions so extreme, that it appears no life can survive. The alien-looking surroundings, sporting DayGlo greens, yellows, and oranges have pools with high degrees of heat, salt, and acid which act in concert to kill off microorganisms.
Scientists have previously been surprised to discover life in some of the most extreme environments on Earth, giving hope to the idea we might find it on other planets and moons with barren conditions. Casting a bit of controversy, a different team of scientists also studied the Dallol area, and reached the opposite conclusion. They found evidence that single-celled organisms called archaea were thriving. More at LiveScience.