The Cells That Breathe Two Ways

A newly discovered bacterium from a Yellowstone hot spring challenges assumptions about cellular respiration. This microbe simultaneously breathes oxygen and sulfur, a feat previously thought impossible due to oxygen's toxicity to anaerobic processes. The discovery provides insight into how life may have adapted during Earth's transition from an anaerobic to an aerobic world billions of years ago. This finding opens new avenues for understanding microbial diversity and metabolism, potentially reshaping our understanding of life's biochemical limits.