Orange Alert

Syracuse University, College of Arts and Sciences

Biology Researchers’ Record-Breaking ‘Fire Amoeba’ Study Draws International Media Attention

Their groundbreaking discovery, which reshapes scientific understanding of the temperature limits of complex life, was featured in The New York Times and numerous other outlets around the world.
Two people in front of a geothermal feature.
Beryl Rappaport (left) and Angela Oliverio (right) at Lassen Volcanic National Park, where they conducted fieldwork that led to the discovery of the record-breaking “fire amoeba.”

Angela Oliverio, assistant professor of biology in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), and biology Ph.D. candidate Beryl Rappaport received international media coverage for their recently published Cell study documenting a newly discovered microorganism known as the “fire amoeba.” The research revealed that Incendiamoeba cascadensis can grow and reproduce at temperatures up to 63°C (145°F), establishing a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotic life and challenging long-held assumptions about the boundaries of complex cellular organisms.

The discovery was highlighted by numerous national and international media outlets, including:

Published: Sept. 25, 2026

Media Contact: asnews@syr.edu