Plant identified that could grow on Mars

A future civilization on Mars could be accompanied by a very special and resilient little plant.

A type of moss found in the desert, called Syntrichia caninervis—may be able to survive and grow in the harsh environment of Mars, according to a new paper published in the journal Innovation.

This moss can grow in freezing temperatures down to -320.8 degrees Fahrenheit and can survive levels of gamma radiation that would kill most other plants and life forms.

The plant can also withstand incredibly dry conditions, as well as a combination of drought, high radiation and cold weather in a simulation of conditions on the Red Planet.

“Our study shows that the environmental resilience of S. caninervis is superior to that of some highly stress-tolerant microorganisms and tardigrades,” the researchers wrote in the paper.S. caninervis is a promising candidate pioneer plant for the colonization of extraterrestrial environments, laying the foundation for the construction of biologically sustainable human habitats beyond Earth.

Mars has a range of conditions that make potential human exploration and habitation difficult, with a thin atmosphere composed primarily of carbon dioxide, with small amounts of nitrogen, argon, and trace amounts of oxygen. and water vapor. Atmospheric pressure on Mars is less than 1% of that on Earth, an average of about 6 millibars, compared to 1,013 millibars on Earth at sea level, and the average surface temperature is about -80 degrees F, but can vary around -195 degrees F in winter. at the poles to 70 degrees F in summer at the equator.

Additionally, water on Mars exists primarily as ice, with the polar ice caps being composed of water and dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide). Mars also does not have a global magnetic field like Earth, meaning that anything on its surface is exposed to high levels of cosmic radiation that would pose a significant risk to human explorers and anything growing on its soil.

This is the first time an entire plant has been tested for its ability to withstand space or otherworldly conditions. Syntrichia caninervis It is found all over the world in harsh environments from Tibet to Antarctica, making it the ideal candidate for testing in Mars conditions.

In the paper, the researchers describe how the moss was stored at -112 degrees F for three or five years, and at -320 degrees F for 15 and 30 days. After thawing, they found that the plants were able to regenerate and grow. They also found that if the moss had been dehydrated before freezing, it recovered more quickly.

They also tested the plant under different doses of radiation, finding that it survived and even thrived at levels of up to 500 Gray (Gy) – humans, for comparison, typically die after exposure to around 8 Gy.

“Our results indicate that S. caninervis “It is among the most radiation-tolerant organisms known,” the researchers wrote in the paper.

The researchers then combined all of these Martian environmental factors, exposing the plant to temperatures fluctuating between -76 and 68 degrees F, low atmospheric pressure, air composed of 95% CO2, and high levels of ultraviolet radiation. . They found that if the moss had been dried beforehand, it had a 100% recovery rate 30 days after exposure, while hydrated plants also recovered, but much more slowly.

“S. caninervis represents a promising candidate as a colonizer to facilitate terra-
to form efforts on Mars or other planets. This is not only because S. caninervis
is a terrestrial plant with extreme tolerance to multiple stresses but also because it could
serve as a pioneer species and basis for establishment and maintenance
of the ecosystem by contributing to the production of oxygen, carbon sequestration,
and soil fertility,” the researchers wrote. “Thus, S. caninervis may help drive atmospheric, geological, and ecological processes necessary for other higher plants and animals while facilitating the creation of new habitable environments suitable for “long-term human settlement.”

They continued: “Although there is still a long way to go to create self-sustaining habitats on other planets, we have demonstrated the great potential of S. caninervis “As a pioneer plant for growing on Mars. In the future, we hope that this promising moss could be brought to Mars or the Moon to further test the possibility of colonization and plant growth in space.”

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