Battle of the Extremophiles

WAIMANALO, OAHU, HAWAII: All that remained of Hawaiian free-diver Tiki Kalani, was his bones. There were numerous theories as to the cause of his death, but in the absence of foul-play, the Kauai medical examiner recorded it as an accidental drowning. A year later, before officially closing the case, the medical examiner provided University of Hawaii, Marine Science Professor, Willow Parker, with a sample of Tiki’s remains for further examination. What she discovered was terrifying,

While viewing the specimen under her microscope, she was shocked to discover  something moving – an organism that had been stored in liquid nitrogen for a year. It was still alive.

While she had never seen anything like it, Willow knew it must be one of the known extremophiles – creatures that can remain viable after spending years in sub-zero temperatures, thermal vents, outer space, and radioactive environments – environments that would quickly kill humans. The creature looked like a tardigrade, a tiny bottom feeder with eight short legs often referred to as a “water bear”. But, this specimen was different – repulsively different. It was ten times bigger and possessed a mouthful of serrated, razor-sharp teeth.

Over the next few weeks, Willow investigated four more deaths believed to have been caused by marine creatures. The DNA didn’t lie. It confirmed the deaths were caused by marine creatures – creatures once thought to be harmless to humans. Inexplicably, they had mutated far faster than natural evolution. Mutations that normally took millions of years, were now being completed in ten or twenty years.

Her worst fears were confirmed when she completed a DNA genomic sequence of the only ocean-borne insect, the halobate, or water strider. A solitary female lays tens of thousands of eggs on a single, quart-size plastic jar – every month. The mutated water strider species had tripled in size, spouted wings, grown a large proboscis and, like malaria mosquitos, had become an agent for the deadliest flesh-eating bacteria known to man – vibrio vulnificus.

After a multitude of tests, Willow discovered the cause of the mutations – horizontal gene transfer from toxic chemicals. The source of the toxicity was obvious - UV photo-decomposition of plastic - billions of tons of plastic.

Each of the mutated marine organisms she examined had undergone significant changes in their physical size, anatomy, and predatory capabilities due to toxins released by the photo-decomposition of plastic from sunlight.

Willow clandestinely continued her research until she completed a compelling dossier of facts and figures to share with the world – evidence that our oceans were rapidly becoming a breeding ground for countless new species of lethal organisms – one in particular quite capable of killing much of the human race. Now that she had determine the cause of the accelerated mutations, her primary mission was to warn the world of the ominous consequences.

The United Nations scoffed at her claims, and refused to consider her powerful report - as did the CDC.

Shortly thereafter, two of Willow’s collaborators died under suspicious circumstances.   

Battle of the Extremophiles is her story.

There’s no place to hide, so pay close attention.

The mutations are here – and they’re looking for a meal.