Inferno Vent at Axial Volcano (IMAGE) University of Massachusetts Amherst Caption Holden studies high temperature microbes that thrive around 200 degrees F near "black smoker" vents that spew out clouds of dark, superheated water up to 660 degree F. His work addresses such questions as what metabolic processes may have looked like on Earth 3 billion years ago and what microbial life might look like on other planets. Credit NOAA Vents Program, NeMO Project Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.