Extremophiles: caves rank among earth's most amazing natural wonders. And they brim with some of the planet's strangest life-forms. (Caves/Microbes). From: Science World | Date: February 11, 2002| Author: Masibay, Kim Y. | COPYRIGHT 2002 Scholastic, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

EXTREMOPHILES refers to microbes that thrive in extreme places. But the word might just as well apply to cavers who go anywhere to find such life-forms, like this ice cave in Greenland.

THE ROPE IS THEIR ONLY LIFELINE. CAVE EXPLORERS NANCY Holler Aulenbach and Hazel Barton Rappel (descend by rope) into an ice shaft, plunging 152.4 meters (500 feet) into frigid waters. They've rappelled into hundreds of caves--but never in Greenland and never an ice cave.

With...