SCIENCE : Desert moss: ‘S. caninervis’ is a globally distributed moss species that thrives in severe desert environments such as Tibet, Antarctica and circumpolar regions, and forms part of the resilient biological soil layer.Scientists have identified a species of desert moss called ‘Synchricia caninervis’ that could prove to be a game-changer for future space exploration and colonization efforts.
This resilient moss has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to survive conditions similar to those found on Mars, raising hopes for its potential use in establishing sustainable habitats beyond Earth.Moss is renowned for its tolerance to drought conditions, but recent studies have shown that it has the remarkable ability to withstand temperatures as low as -196 degrees Celsius, high levels of gamma radiation and simulated Martian environments. Interestingly, prior dehydration increases the moss’ ability to cope with these extreme stresses.
The researchers claimed that S. caninervis surpasses even highly stress-tolerant microorganisms and tardigrades in environmental resilience. “Our study shows that the environmental resilience of S. caninervis is superior to some highly stress-tolerant microorganisms and tardigrades,” they said. They believe that this moss is a promising candidate for the colonization of plants beyond Earth, possibly paving the way for sustainable human habitation in outer space environments. Unlike previous studies, which focused on microorganisms, algae, lichens and plant spores, this research uniquely investigated the resilience of whole plants to extreme conditions such as Mars. S. caninervis is a globally distributed moss species that thrives in harsh desert environments such as Tibet, Antarctica and circumpolar regions, and forms part of the resilient biological soil layer. The researchers conducted rigorous tests in controlled laboratory settings to assess the tolerance of mosses to extreme cold, gamma radiation and simulated Martian conditions. The results were surprising, as the mosses displayed a remarkable ability to regenerate even after living in these harsh environments.
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Desert moss found on Mars
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Desert moss found on Mars
