Name: Life from Earth could temporarily survive on Mars
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Life from Earth could temporarily survive on Mars

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February 22, 2021bySome microbes on Earth could temporarily survive on the surface of Mars, finds a new study by NASA and German Aerospace Center scientists. The researchers tested the endurance of microorganisms to Martian conditions by launching them into the Earth's stratosphere, as it closely represents key conditions on the Red Planet. Published in Frontiers in Microbiology, this work paves the way for understanding not only the threat of microbes to space missions, but also the opportunities for resource independence from Earth."We successfully tested a new way of exposing bacteria and fungi to Mars-like conditions by using a scientific balloon to fly our experimental equipment up to Earth's stratosphere," reports Marta Filipa Cortesão, joint first author of this study from the German Aerospace Center, Cologne, Germany. "Some microbes, in particular spores from the black mold fungus, were able to survive the trip, even when exposed to very high UV radiation."Microbial hitchhikersUnderstanding the endurance of microbes to space travel is vital for the success of future missions. When searching for extra-terrestrial life, we need to be sure that anything we discover has not just travelled with us from Earth."With crewed long-term missions to Mars, we need to know how human-associated microorganisms would survive on the Red Planet, as some may pose a health risk to astronauts," says joint first author Katharina Siems, also based at the German Aerospace Center. "In addition, some microbes could be invaluable for . They could help us produce food and material supplies independently from Earth, which will be crucial when far away from home."Mars in a boxMany key characteristics of the environment at the Martian surface cannot be found or easily replicated at the surface of our planet, however, above the in Earth's middle stratosphere the conditions are remarkably similar."We launched the microbes into the stratosphere inside the MARSBOx (Microbes in Atmosphere for Radiation, Survival and Biological Outcomes experiment) payload, which was kept at Martian pressure and filled with artificial Martian atmosphere throughout the mission," explains Cortesão. "The box carried two sample layers, with the bottom layer shielded from radiation. This allowed us to separate the effects of radiation from the other tested conditions: desiccation, atmosphere, and temperature fluctuation during the flight. The top layer samples were exposed to more than a thousand times more UV radiation than levels that can cause sunburn on our skin.""While not all the survived the trip, one previously detected on the International Space Station, the black mold Aspergillus niger, could be revived after it returned home," explains Siems, who highlights the importance of this ongoing research."Microorganisms are closely-connected to us; our body, our food, our environment, so it is impossible to rule them out of space travel. Using good analogies for the Martian environment, such as the MARSBOx balloon mission to the stratosphere, is a really important way to help us explore all the implications of on microbial life and how we can drive this knowledge towards amazing space discoveries."Explore furtherMore information:Marta Cortesão et al, MARSBOx: Fungal and Bacterial Endurance From a Balloon-Flown Analog Mission in the Stratosphere, Frontiers in Microbiology (2021).Journal information:Provided byCitation:Life from Earth could temporarily survive on Mars (2021, February 22)retrieved 22 February 2021from https://phys.org/news/2021-02-life-earth-temporarily-survive-mars.htmlThis document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, nopart may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.5 hours ago9 hours ago10 hours agoFeb 19, 2021Feb 19, 20212 hours ago3 hours agoFeb 21, 2021Feb 20, 2021Feb 20, 2021Feb 19, 2021More fromWhat do you think about this particular story?Your feedback will go directly to Science X editors.E-mail the storyLife from Earth could temporarily survive on MarsThis site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, and provide content from third parties.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand ourand .

February 22, 2021bySome microbes on Earth could temporarily survive on the surface of Mars, finds a new study by NASA and German Aerospace Center scientists. The researchers tested the endurance of microorganisms to Martian conditions by launching them into the Earth's stratosphere, as it closely represents key conditions on the Red Planet. Published in Frontiers in Microbiology, this work paves the way for understanding not only the threat of microbes to space missions, but also the opportunities for resource independence from Earth."We successfully tested a new way of exposing bacteria...

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Life from Earth could temporarily survive on Mars

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