5Lena is researching extremophile bacteria in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. She collected samples from 3 vents, containing 1,248, 1,576, and 987 microbial colonies respectively. After analysis, she found that 18% of the colonies across all samples were dormant. How many active microbial colonies did she observe in total?

Tue, 05 May 2026 21:17:16 +0000

Title: Discovery of Extremophiles: Lena’s Deep-Sea Vent Research Reveals Insights into Microbial Dormancy In the mysterious depths of the ocean, where sunlight never reaches and pressures crush conventional understanding, researcher Dr. Lena is pioneering breakthroughs in understanding extremophile bacteria thriving in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Her recent expedition uncovered fascinating microbial life across three distinct hydrothermal vents—yielding clues about how life persists in extreme conditions. Dr. Lena collected microbial samples from three active vent sites, each teeming with microorganisms uniquely adapted to survive in high temperature, intense pressure, and chemically rich environments. The counts revealed significant variation: the first vent yielded 1,248 colonies, the second hosted 1,576 colonies, and the third contained 987 microbial colonies. These samples alone represent immense biological diversity, offering invaluable data for astrobiology and biotechnology. After comprehensive laboratory analysis, Dr. Lena determined that 18% of the total microbial colonies across all samples were dormant—microbes alive but not actively growing, likely as a survival strategy in the volatile vent environments. To calculate the number of active colonies, first, we find the total microbial colonies observed: