China’s scientists discovered moss able to survive on Mars
Scientists have discovered an ultra-resistant species of desert moss in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang, which could help sustain future colonies on Mars, according to experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Reuters reports
A scientific article was published in The Innovation journal last week stating that Syntrichia Caninervis moss – in conditions simulating the environment on Mars – was able to withstand extreme dryness, ultra-low temperatures and radiation. Scientists also claim that it can serve as ‘basis for the establishment and maintenance of the ecosystem by contributing to oxygen production, carbon sequestration, and soil fertility’.
“It can help drive the atmospheric, geological, and ecological processes required for other higher plants and animals while facilitating the creation of new habitable environments conducive to long-term human settlement,” the article reads.
During the study, scientists found that even after losing more than 98 percent of the water contained in the cells, moss was able to restore photosynthetic and biological activity within a few seconds after receiving water.
