“The desert moss Syntrichia caninervis shows remarkable potential for colonization on Mars due to its extraordinary resilience to harsh conditions fatal to most life forms. Renowned for surviving droughts, recent findings published on June 30 in The Innovation reveal its ability to endure freezing temperatures down to −196°C, high gamma radiation levels, and simulated Martian conditions combining these stresses, particularly thriving after prior dehydration.
Lead researchers including ecologists Daoyuan Zhang and Yuanming Zhang, alongside botanist Tingyun Kuang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, underscored the moss’s superior environmental resilience compared to many stress-tolerant microorganisms and tardigrades. Syntrichia caninervis, widely distributed across global desert habitats like Tibet and Antarctica, forms part of the biological soil crust, a robust ground cover in arid regions. These attributes led researchers to explore its suitability for extraterrestrial colonization, laying foundational groundwork for sustainable habitats beyond Earth.
While previous studies focused on microorganisms, algae, lichens, and plant spores in space-like conditions, this pioneering study marks the first comprehensive examination of whole plants. The moss’s adaptability was tested in controlled lab environments: enduring extended periods at −80°C and −196°C, where it demonstrated regrowth capabilities post-thaw, albeit slower than dehydrated controls. Notably, exposure to 500 Gy gamma radiation doses, lethal to most plants, not only sustained but seemingly enhanced the moss’s growth, highlighting its exceptional radiation tolerance.
Further experiments using the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Planetary Atmospheres Simulation Facility replicated Martian conditions with 95% CO2, fluctuating temperatures, UV radiation, and low atmospheric pressure. Dehydrated moss plants exhibited 100% regeneration within 30 days, even after prolonged exposure, while hydrated plants, though slower to regenerate, also survived Martian conditions.
“While challenges remain in achieving self-sustaining habitats on other planets, our findings underscore Syntrichia caninervis as a pioneering candidate for Mars cultivation,” the researchers conclude. They envision future missions where this resilient moss could be pivotal in testing plant colonization beyond Earth, supported by funding from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other programs.”
