We want to tell you a story that is over half a billion years old. The earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus is an animal that has evolved to live in an extraordinary environment, a volcanic geothermal field in Sao Miguel Island, one of the nine Islands in Azores Archipelago. By sequencing Pontoscolex’s genome we aim to reveal how this remarkable animal is able to live in the most challenging environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, acid soils, and an incredible low oxygen level.