The moss Syntrichia caninervis is the first plant studied to discover its degree of adaptability to planets other than Earth: laboratory experiments have shown it to be suitable for resisting extreme temperatures, drought and high levels of radiation.
It can survive even at -196°C and tolerate drought and even high levels of gamma radiation. Due to its super-resistance, desert moss Syntrichia caninervis and the first plant candidate to colonize MarteA group of researchers from theChinese Academy of Sciencesrecreating in the laboratory environmental conditions similar to those that we know from the studies carried out so far to be plausible on Marte. The results of their work were published in an article in the scientific journal The Innovation.
In fact, the search for organisms suitable for growing outside of Planet Earth has been underway for some time. So far, however, only a few have been tested microorganismslichens, algae and plant spores, but this is the first study to investigate the suitability of a plant.
What is this variety of moss?
This species of moss was already known to live in extreme places, even in conditions of high droughtwhere it grows in a diffuse manner. It is found in desert places, such as the Tibet and even theAntarctica. For this reason, a group of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences wanted to challenge its limits and subject it to extreme conditionswhich it would likely face if it were planted on Mars. Although colonization still faces many obstacles. For example, a recent study has shown that travel to the red planet could be deadly for humans.
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Experimentation in the laboratory
The scientists manipulated three parameters: the temperatureexposure to gamma rays and the composition of the atmosphere. Regarding the first point, the researchers have preserved some moss samples at -80°C for a very long period (3-5 years)and others to -196°C for about 15-30 days. In both circumstances the samples regenerated once thawed, demonstrating the plant’s ability to resist even extreme cold. Thanks to space exploration, we know that on Mars there is an average temperature of -63°C, which during polar nights it can even reach -145°C.
As for gamma rays, which on the surface of Mars are between 0.05 and 0.076 Gy per year, the researchers found that not only was moss able to survive high doses of 500 Gy but that the exposed samples actually seemed to grow better and more intensely.
A candidate for creating human-friendly environments
The last point: the weather. Clearly, one of the main obstacles to the projects of colonization of Mars is the presence of atmospheric conditions very different from those on Earth. The researchers tried to recreate them through a simulation structure, with which they brought 95% CO2 concentration levelthe temperature between 20°C and -60°C, and intensified radiation levels: despite this, the dried plants subjected to these conditions showed a level of 100% regeneration within 30 days.
Even if further experiments will be necessary, no longer in the laboratory, but directly on Mars, the researchers explain, the data they have obtained in this experiment are very interesting. Syntrichia caninervis one of the favorite candidates for the construction of extraterrestrial biological environments that can be colonized by humans.
