Scientists in China have discovered a ‘super moss’ that could help sustain life on Mars.
The super resilient Syntrichia Caninervis moss was found in the desert in the western region of Xinjiang and could help sustain colonies on the red planet, according to experts at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Moss is a very absorbent plant and can hold more than its own body weight in water.
The ‘super moss’ Syntrichia Caninervis in China. Pic: Chinese Academy of Sciences/The Innovation
When the scientists dried out this particular species of moss and then rehydrated it, it sprang back to life within seconds.
They also froze it and zapped it with radiation, trying to recreate conditions on Mars, and the moss still came back to life, photosynthesising and growing as normal.
Once on Mars, the scientists say it could help to make oxygen, suck up CO2 and keep soil fertile.
They found that even after losing more than 98% of its water content, the moss was able to recover within seconds when it was rehydrated.
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It can also regenerate after being stored in a freezer at -80C (-112F) for five years or in liquid nitrogen for a month.
The moss is found in Xinjiang, Tibet, a Californian desert, the Middle East and polar regions.
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China’s samples from far side of the moon
Racing to Mars
The race to outer space has spurred China and the United States to launch exploration plans in recent years.
Last month, China retrieved samples from the far side of the moon and brought them back to Earth in a world first.
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Those samples may tell them what can be built on the far side of the moon to help them get to Mars more easily.
In the US, NASA has formulated a 20-year plan for Mars, seeking answers as to whether the red planet is habitable for humans.
