conditions, oxygen and sulfide consumption are matched. Under hypoxic to anoxic conditions, however, sulfide consumption continues without commensurate oxygen consumption, and these results can be duplicated at higher oxygen conditions by selective blockade of terminal oxidases. These metabolic capabilities depend on prior environmental sulfide exposure, which suggests substantial mitochondrial metabolic plasticity. The recent finding that endogenous sulfide is a critical cell signaling molecule in all organisms suggests that the metabolic pathways that tightly control cellular sulfide levels are widespread. Sensors that accurately report sulfide concentrations under physiologically relevant conditions are valuable tools with which to explore the expanding role of sulfide in biological systems.