Mars, the red planet, could one day turn green. It would not be the result of theories on "marteformation” of the former Head of NASA, but of the presence of a simple local plant. A team of Chinese scientists has discovered that a humble land moss can withstand the planet's extreme conditions.
Could this little plant one day be the key to making the dream of making Mars habitable a reality? Let's go very, very slowly. And then why fly like this, with your imagination, when the news is already good about him?
The discovery
A team of researchers in China conducted a groundbreaking study on Syntrichia caninervis, a type of moss commonly found in remote, hostile terrestrial environments such as Antarctica or the Mojave Desert in the United States. The study revealed that this moss not only survives, but even thrives in Mars-like conditions. Learn more whenever you want the original articleIn the meantime I'll tell you here.
To test the resistance of the moss, scientists recreated the extreme conditions of the red planet in the laboratory:
- Atmosphere composed of 95% carbon dioxide
- Temperatures down to -196°C
- High levels of ultraviolet radiation
- Low atmospheric pressure
The results? Surprising
The moss demonstrated remarkable resilience: it survived extreme conditions and recovered quickly from an almost complete loss of water
Prof. Stuart McDaniel from the University of Florida, a moss expert (don't laugh) and not involved in the study, commented:
This paper is exciting because it shows that desert moss survives exposure to some of the stresses one would likely encounter during a trip to Mars, including very high levels of radiation, very cold temperatures, and very low oxygen levels.
“Super moss”: future prospects
Scientists consider this experiment an encouraging step towards the possible cultivation of plants on the Martian surface. It is hoped that in the future the moss could be taken to the Moon or Mars to test its growth outside of Earth.
Prof. Edward Guinan from Villanova University in the US described the study as impressive, stating:
This humble desert moss offers hope for making small portions of Mars habitable for humanity in the future.
Am I the opposite? Okay, I'll do it
Despite the enthusiasm, it is important to note at least 3 things:
- The study tested only brief exposures to Martian conditions
- The long-term effects remain to be assessed
- Terraforming Mars remains an extremely complex and long-term goal.
This, I repeat, does not detract from the importance of the discovery. And I'll also tell you why.
The role of moss in the terrestrial ecosystem
To better understand the importance of this discovery, it is useful to consider the role of moss in terrestrial ecosystems. We could define moss as our "Colonization Pioneer": it is often among the first organisms to colonize new environments.
With its great capabilities (helps retain soil moisture, its roots stabilize the soil, provides a favorable habitat for other smaller organisms) it's a bit like the guy who conquers a piece of barren land and turns it into a resort for holidays.
These characteristics could prove crucial in a possible attempt to terraform Mars, it's true. But they are even more useful for improving the state of places on Earth where drought and other negative conditions prevail.
Next steps in research
As mentioned, further research is needed to extract something good and useful from this "strong" moss:
- Test the survival of moss in extreme conditions (such as Martian ones) for longer periods;
- Investigate the possibility of genetically modifying moss to increase its resistance;
- Evaluate how moss could be used in synergy with other life forms to create a sustainable ecosystem, on Mars or on Earth :)
A risk-free male musk
The discovery that the Syntrichia caninervis can survive in conditions similar to those of Mars opens up new and exciting possibilities for the Earth's environment and also for space exploration and the potential colonization of other planets.
We are still far from making Mars a green and habitable planet, but we are decidedly less far from making Earth an inhospitable planet, so welcome research.
The humble moss, often overlooked, could become a crucial vanguard of our future.