A new review study explains that extremophiles have revolutionized medicine, and are invaluable allies in the fight against climate change. That organism, subsequently named Thermus aquaticus by Brock and his research team, is widely regarded as one of the first extremophiles (organisms that thrive in hostile environments) ever discovered. “They possess unique physiological and biochemical adaptations that enable them to survive and even thrive under such hostile conditions. But the utility of these extreme organisms goes beyond mere practicality—they’ve also made heroic contributions to the realm of pure science. To solve some of the world’s very big problems, scientists may have to turn to the world of the very small.