A step towards life on Mars? Lichens survive Martian simulation in new study

For the first time, researchers have displayed that some lychen species can avoid Mars -type conditions, including ionization radiation, while maintaining a metabolism active condition.

Published In the journal Ema FungusA new study throws light on the ability of the liquids to survive and function, which works on the martian surface, challenges the previous beliefs about the uninhabited nature of Mars, and provides insight to astrobiology and space exploration.

Liches are not a single organism, but a symbiotic association between a fungi and algae and/or cyanobacteria that is known for extreme tolerance for a rigid environment such as the Earth’s desert and polar regions. In this study, the fungal partner in Lichen symbiosis was metabolicly active, when in the dark came in contact with atmospheric conditions like Mars, including X-ray radiation levels on Mars in one year of strong solar activity.

Research focuses on two lycons species, diplosuchistes muscoram and citrus aculeta, which have been selected for their different symptoms, exposing them in positions like Mars for five hours in the planet’s atmospheric composition, pressure, temperature fluctuations and simulations of X-ray radiation.

Conclusions suggest that License, especially D. Muscorums can, potentially survive on Mars, reach the surface of the planet despite the high doses of X-ray radiation attached to solar flares and energetic particles. These results challenge the notion that ionization radiation is an inaccessible barrier to life on Mars and determines the platform for further research on supernatural microbial and symbiotic survival ability.

Kaza Scubala, the lead writer of the paper, said, “Our study is the first to display that the metabolism of the fungal partner in Lichen symbiosis was active during the environment.

“These findings expand our understanding of biological processes under fake Martian conditions and explain how hydrated organisms respond to ionization radiation – one of the most important challenges for existence and habit on Mars. Finally, this research deepens our knowledge about lichen adaptation and their ability to collect the supernatural environment.”

Further long -term studies investigating the effects of chronic radiation risk on the liches have been recommended, as well as using their existence in the real Martian environment.