Chinese Scientists Identify Supermoss That Can ‘Survive’ on Mars

Scientists have identified a species of super-hardy desert moss in the western China region. Xinjiang which could help support possible colonies in Marsthe study showed Chinese Academy of Sciences.

When exposed to conditions simulating the environment of Mars, the moss was found to be Syntrychia caninervis – was able to withstand extreme drought, freezing temperatures and radiation, according to a research paper from the academy published last week in the journal The Innovation.

Moss can serve as a “foundation for the creation and maintenance of an ecosystem by promoting oxygen production, carbon sequestration and soil fertility,” the researcher said in a study published July 1.

“(It could) help control 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 paper adds.

During the study, the scientists found that even after losing more than 98% of the water content in the cells, the moss was able to restore its photosynthetic and physiological activity within seconds of hydration.

In its intact form, the plant can also tolerate extremely low temperatures and recover after storage in a freezer at minus 80 degrees Celsius (minus 112 degrees Fahrenheit) for five years or in liquid nitrogen for one month.

The moss is found in Xinjiang, Tibet, the California desert, the Middle East and the polar regions.

The race to expand its presence in space has pushed China and USA to initiate exploration plans in recent years.

Chinese missions include launch of near-Earth asteroid probe Tianwen-2 next year and Tianwen-3 around 2030 to return samples from Mars. Last month, China received samples from the far side of the moon.

In the United States POT formulated a 20-year plan for the development of Mars, trying to find answers to the question of whether the Red Planet is suitable for human life.