Life Thrives Beneath the Hot Sands of the Atacama Desert
At first glance, the Atacama seems like one of the most inhospitable places on the planet. This desert in northern Chile is known as the driest place on Earth – in some parts, rain has not been recorded for decades. The sun scorches the ground, daily temperatures are extreme, and the surface appears completely lifeless. However, scientists have discovered that a surprisingly rich world of microorganisms is hidden beneath the hot sand.