Recently, researchers have discovered a type of desert moss that could help sustain life on Mars.
According to The Guardian, in the blockbuster film The Martian, actor Matt Damon plays an astronaut stranded on Mars who survives by eating potatoes grown in soil mixed with his own waste. Could the prospect of survival on the “Red Planet” happen in real life?
Matt Damon growing potatoes in The Martian. (Photo: 20th Century Fox/Allstar).
Recently, scientists in China discovered Syntrichia caninervis – a type of moss found in Antarctica and the Mojave Desert – which can withstand conditions similar to those on Mars, including drought, high radiation levels, and extreme cold.
The group of scientists stated that this is the first research project to explore the survival abilities of entire plant species in a Martian environment, focusing on the potential for growing plants on the planet’s surface rather than in greenhouses.
“The unique insights gained in our research lay the groundwork for conquering space using selectively adapted plant species to harsh conditions,” the research team mentioned.
Professor Stuart McDaniel, a moss expert at the University of Florida who did not participate in the study, noted that this idea holds significant value.
“Growing terrestrial plants is a crucial part of any long-term space mission because plants can efficiently convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and carbohydrates – essentially the air and food that humans need to survive. Desert moss is not edible, but it can provide other essential supports in space,” he said.
Dr. Agata Zupanska at the SETI Institute also agrees with this view. She emphasized that moss can help enrich and transform the rock materials found on the surface of Mars to allow other plant species to thrive.
Desert moss (Syntrichia caninervis). (Photo: Alamy).
In the journal The Innovation, the Chinese researchers describe that desert moss not only survives but also recovers quickly after nearly complete dehydration. It can regenerate under normal growth conditions after experiencing temperatures as low as -80 degrees Celsius for up to 5 years and -196 degrees Celsius for up to 30 days. Even after exposure to gamma rays at levels around 500Gy, the moss can still grow.
The research team then created an environment with pressure, temperature, gas, and UV radiation similar to Mars. They found that the moss survived in this Martian-like environment and could regenerate under normal growth conditions, even after 7 days of exposure to harsh Martian-like conditions. The researchers also noted that moss that was dried before exposure to extreme conditions performed better.
“In the future, we hope that this promising moss can be sent to Mars or the Moon for further testing of its viability and development in space,” the researchers wrote.
Mr. McDaniel noted that most plant species cannot withstand the stresses of space travel.
“This study is exciting because it shows that desert moss can survive brief exposure to some of the pressures that might be encountered on a journey to Mars – including very high radiation levels, extremely cold temperatures, and very low oxygen levels,” he said.
However, he added that this study still has limitations. According to him, the experiment represents an important first step, but it does not demonstrate that moss can be a significant source of oxygen under Martian conditions, nor does it show that desert moss can reproduce and thrive in a Martian environment.
Ms. Zupanska added that the research also did not test the effects of particle radiation.
“In my opinion, we are getting closer to growing plants in greenhouses beyond Earth, and moss certainly has a place in that. However, claiming that moss, or any other pioneering species, is ready to terraform Mars or any other outer planet is still an exaggeration,” she stated.
Dr. Wieger Wamelink from Wageningen University also raised concerns, including the fact that temperatures on the “Red Planet” rarely rise above freezing, which prevents crops from growing, while the new research did not use soil similar to that on Mars.
“In this study, moss was treated in Martian-like conditions for a few days and then regrew in Earth conditions on sand. Of course, this does not show that they could grow in Martian conditions,” he said.
Nonetheless, Professor Edward Guinan from Villanova University (USA) still considers this an impressive study.
“This type of moss could be a promising pioneering plant species for the conquest of Mars. We still have a long way to go. But this humble desert moss has brought hope to transform small portions of Mars into a habitat for humanity in the future,” he commented.
