Extremophile fungi – key milestones in life

A documentary video by the Biotechnical Faculty at the University of Ljubljana follows Slovenian biologist Prof. Dr. Nina Gunde Cimerman on her research trip to the Bolivian plateau, where she studies extremophile fungi—organisms that survive in places where most life would perish—in salt flats and glaciers.

These fungi, adapted to salinity, drought, cold, and strong UV radiation, are not only a scientific curiosity, but also proof of the extraordinary adaptability of life. Studying them reveals how microorganisms respond to climate change and what this means for the future of food, the environment, and humanity.

The video raises questions about the invisible world that supports our ecosystems and highlights the collaboration with local communities and the human dimension of research expeditions. The central message is clear: we will only understand the future of the planet if we also understand its least visible forms of life.