How close could a living thing get to the Sun?
We all know how hot it feels to be outside on a warm sunny day, but how close could a living creature get before it quite literally fries?
Asked by: Jane Thorpe, Lancaster
Some so-called hyperthermophilic bacteria thrive at temperatures in excess of 100°C, which is the temperature it would reach if sitting in space around half the distance of the Earth from the Sun. More realistically, if put inside a protective container, they could get much closer – and certainly well inside the orbit of Mercury, the hottest planet in our Solar System.
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Authors
Robert is a science writer and visiting professor of science at Aston University.
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