Terrestrial algae could colonize Mars

Syntrichia caninervis could make Mars fertile. A new study shows it can survive in Mars-like conditions.

FRANKFURT – Mars is currently considered a lifeless planet, at least according to current research. Even the most resilient plants do not yet grow there. But a research team has now discovered a plant that can survive the harsh conditions of Mars. The main role is played by the ability to withstand extreme cold, high radiation and other harsh conditions.

The desert moss Syntrichia caninervis could be a good candidate for this challenge. This moss thrives in desert regions around the world, including Tibet, Antarctica, and the polar regions. It is therefore adapted to harsh conditions, and as a recent study has shown, it appears to be able to survive even in Mars-like conditions.

Algae from Earth could also survive under Martian conditions.

The study that In the specialized magazine Innovation Published It was carried out by a Chinese research team. The researchers exposed the moss to various harsh conditions, including temperatures of -80 degrees Celsius for three and five years, and -196 degrees Celsius for 15 and 30 days. In all cases, the plants fully recovered after thawing.

The algae also showed remarkable resistance to gamma rays. The research team found that radiation doses of up to 500 Gy actually promoted algae growth, while people suffered severe convulsions and died at doses as low as about 50 Gy. According to one source, only doses above 8,000 Gy caused significant damage to Syntrichia caninervis. notice To study.

Syntrichia Caninervis Survives Simulated Mars Conditions

The team also tested whether the moss could survive in Mars-like conditions. Mars conditions were simulated at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Planetary Atmosphere Simulation Facility: 95 percent carbon dioxide in the air, temperatures ranging from -60 to +20 degrees Celsius, high ultraviolet radiation and low atmospheric pressure. After 30 days of exposure, the dried moss plants had fully recovered, the research team reported.

The question is what growing Syntrichia caninervis on Mars might bring – after all, says Sharon Robinson of the University of Wollongong in Australia, the algae is inedible. “We can’t eat it, but if it photosynthesizes, it might be able to produce a little oxygen,” Robinson says. In the new world.

Desert algae are not directly considered a food source on the surface of Mars.

The research team doesn’t see the plant as a potential food source—at least not directly. “S. caninervis is a promising pioneer plant for colonizing extraterrestrial environments, thus laying the foundation for building biologically sustainable human habitats beyond Earth,” the study says. “Cultivation could enable more plant species to be grown on algae rather than directly on the inhospitable Martian soil.” (unpaid invoice)