Arctic algae move through ice at extremely low temperatures

Arctic diatoms are actively moving at temperatures as low as -15°C, defying previous biological assumptions about life in extreme cold. These single-celled algae use a mucus secretion and molecular motors to glide through ice, a process previously undocumented at such low temperatures for eukaryotic cells. This discovery has implications for understanding Arctic ecosystems and their role in the food web, especially as the Arctic environment rapidly changes.