Natural dust is often associated with hot, subtropical deserts, but significant dust events have
been reported from cold, high latitudes. This review synthesizes current understanding of …

Microbial life is surprisingly abundant and diverse in global desert ecosystems. In these
environments, microorganisms endure a multitude of physicochemical stresses, including …

Numerous diverse microorganisms reside in the cold desert soils of continental Antarctica,
though we lack a holistic understanding of the metabolic processes that sustain them. Here …

The occurrence of fungi in soils of the hot deserts and the dry areas of the Antarctic and
Arctic are described. A number of filamentous fungi and yeasts have been documented from …

Microbial communities in extreme environments often have low diversity and specialized
physiologies suggesting a limited resistance to change. The McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV) …

This work focuses on rock-inhabiting fungi (RIF) of Antarctic rocky deserts, considered the
closest to a possible Martian habitat, as the best example of adaptation to the extremes. The …

Scientists use the Earth as a tool for astrobiology by analyzing planetary field analogues (ie
terrestrial samples and field sites that resemble planetary bodies in our Solar System). In …

Water tracks are zones of high soil moisture that route water downslope over the ice table in
polar environments. We present physical, hydrological, and geochemical evidence collected …

Field observations of coastal and lowland regions in the McMurdo Dry Valleys suggest they
are on the threshold of rapid topographic change, in contrast to the high elevation upland …

For decades, the search for potential signs of Martian life has attracted strong international
interest and has led to significant planning and scientific implementation. Clearly, in order to …