Scientists Have Found A Plant That Could Grow On Mars And Pave The Way For Human Life On The Planet

Like the Moon, Mars has captured significant attention from scientists on Earth.

Living on the Moon is improbable, but there are hopes Mars could eventually become livable for humans.

Yet, Mars is currently considered unsafe for humans to inhabit for longer than four years, ruling out long-term settlement plans.

Despite setbacks, scientists continue to explore theories that could eventually allow humans to settle on Mars, and they recently achieved a significant breakthrough.

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Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have discovered that Syntrichia caninervis, a type of moss capable of thriving in harsh desert conditions, can withstand Mars-like environments. 

This includes drought, high radiation levels, and extreme cold.

Although moss itself is not edible, its ability to survive in such conditions could greatly contribute to making Mars' atmosphere more suitable for human habitation.

Prof Stuart McDaniel, an expert on moss at the University of Florida but was not involved in the study, explained to The Guardian: "Cultivating terrestrial plants is an important part of any long-term space mission because plants efficiently turn carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and carbohydrates – essentially the air and food that humans need to survive.

A new study has suggested that moss might be able to survive on Mars. Getty Stock

"Desert moss is not edible, but it could provide other important services in space."

In addition to surviving Mars-like conditions, the moss was noted for its ability to quickly recover from nearly complete dehydration.

According to IFL Science, other moss samples were subjected to extreme conditions, stored in a –80°C (–112°F) freezer for three to five years, and in a –196°C (-321°F) liquid nitrogen tank for 15 to 30 days, before being transferred to sterilized sand for recovery.

Remarkably, the plants recovered well despite exposure to these harsh conditions, with a reintegration rate of approximately 95 percent compared to control plants.

The moss was also subjected to the intense radiation levels similar to those on Mars, which the samples successfully endured.

The moss could help make the Red Planet eventually habitable for humans. Getty Stock

There are now aspirations to eventually test the moss on Mars or the Moon to explore the potential for plant colonization and growth in outer space.

While the study doesn't conclusively prove that the moss can survive on Mars, it represents a promising advancement in that direction.

"This extremotolerant moss could be a promising pioneer plant for Mars colonisation," Prof Edward Guinan of Villanova University shared.

Noting that more research is needed, he went on: "We have a long way to go, but this lowly desert moss offers hope for making small portions of Mars habitable for humankind in the future."