The article by Aharon Oren provides an overview of halophiles, microorganisms that thrive in highly saline environments, across all three domains of life: Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. Halophiles are found in various phyla within the Bacteria and in the class Halobacteria within Archaea. The article discusses the two primary strategies halophiles use to balance their cytoplasmic osmotic pressure with their surroundings: accumulating high concentrations of KCl or synthesizing and accumulating organic osmotic solutes. The first strategy requires extensive adaptation of intracellular enzymes to maintain proper conformation and activity at high salt concentrations, while the second strategy allows for a broader range of salt tolerance with fewer cellular adaptations. The article also highlights the discovery of Salinibacter ruber, a red extreme halophile with archaeal characteristics, which uses the 'high-salt-in' strategy, challenging previous understandings of haloadaptation in bacteria. The diversity and physiological mechanisms of halophiles are discussed, emphasizing the need for continued research to understand the complex interactions between halophily, taxonomy, phylogeny, and nomenclature.The article by Aharon Oren provides an overview of halophiles, microorganisms that thrive in highly saline environments, across all three domains of life: Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. Halophiles are found in various phyla within the Bacteria and in the class Halobacteria within Archaea. The article discusses the two primary strategies halophiles use to balance their cytoplasmic osmotic pressure with their surroundings: accumulating high concentrations of KCl or synthesizing and accumulating organic osmotic solutes. The first strategy requires extensive adaptation of intracellular enzymes to maintain proper conformation and activity at high salt concentrations, while the second strategy allows for a broader range of salt tolerance with fewer cellular adaptations. The article also highlights the discovery of Salinibacter ruber, a red extreme halophile with archaeal characteristics, which uses the 'high-salt-in' strategy, challenging previous understandings of haloadaptation in bacteria. The diversity and physiological mechanisms of halophiles are discussed, emphasizing the need for continued research to understand the complex interactions between halophily, taxonomy, phylogeny, and nomenclature.