Scientists from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have made a groundbreaking discovery: a desert moss species that can survive the harsh conditions of Mars. The moss, Syntrichia caninervis, demonstrates remarkable resilience to extreme drought, intense radiation, and frigid temperatures.
Published in the journal The Innovation, the research details how the moss not only endured but also rapidly recovered from near-total dehydration. Astonishingly, it was able to regenerate under normal growth conditions after being subjected to temperatures as low as -80 degrees Celsius for up to five years and -196 degrees Celsius for up to 30 days. Moreover, exposure to gamma radiation doses around 500 Gy not only failed to harm the moss but actually promoted new growth.
To further test its limits, the research team recreated an environment akin to Martian conditions, replicating the planet’s atmospheric pressure, temperature fluctuations, gas composition, and ultraviolet radiation levels. In this simulated Mars environment, Syntrichia caninervis not only survived but also demonstrated the ability to regenerate when returned to standard growth conditions.
This discovery sets a new benchmark for the tolerance of life forms to extreme environments. The resilience of this desert moss offers inspiring possibilities for human exploration of outer space and the potential creation of habitable ecosystems on Mars. The findings could contribute significantly to future efforts in establishing new ecosystems on the Red Planet, supporting the long-term goal of human colonization.
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Chinese scientists find desert moss that can survive on Mars
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