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Scottish Sun
22-04-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Exact type of lifeform that could live on brutal Mars surface revealed – even surviving deadly radiation bombardment
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TOUGH lifeform could survive the brutal conditions of Mars. That's the verdict from scientists who spent five hours blasting it with a year's worth of Martian radiation. 6 Mars is a brutal wasteland that is bombarded with dangerous radiation Credit: Nasa 6 Humans would need significant protection to survive on the red planet's surface Credit: Nasa 6 Scientists tested whether two forms of lichen – Cetraria aculeata and Diploschistes muscorum – could survive on Mars Credit: IMA Fungus Lichens are common on Earth, and is known for being hardy. And scientists now think that lichens could survive the ionising radiation that life experiences on Mars. This kind of radiation is extremely damaging, and is a serious threat to human plans for living on the red planet. But researchers writing in the journal IMA Fungus say they reckon lichens could survive on Mars today, despite the planet's barren surface. Lichens are a strange "symbiotic" relationship between fungus and algae (or cyanobacteria). Scientists were able to show that this lichen relationship remained "metabolically active" even with exposed to Mars-like atmospheric conditions. That included being in darkness, and high X-ray radiation levels. They tested two species of lichen: Diploschistes muscorum and Cetraria aculeata. And they found that the former was cabale or surviving those brutal conditions – giving hope for the survival of an alien off-Earth lichen colony. "Our study is the first to demonstrate that the metabolism of the fungal partner in lichen symbiosis remained active while being in an environment resembling the surface of Mars," said Kaja Skubała, of Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, who led the research. Astronomer reacts to James Webb Space Telescope image of distant galaxies "We found that Diploschistes muscorum was able to carry out metabolic processes and activate defence mechanisms effectively. "These findings expand our understanding of biological processes under simulated Martian conditions. "And reveal how hydrated organisms respond to ionising radiation – one of the most critical challenges for survival and habitability on Mars. "Ultimately, this research deepens our knowledge of lichen adaptation and their potential for colonising extraterrestrial environments." 6 Sadly, this doesn't mean scientists have found – or will ever find – lichen already living on Mars. But it means that an alien colony of lichen could potentially survive Mars' harsh conditions. HUNTING FOR E.T. It comes in the same month as scientists revealing they're almost certain they've spotted a key sign of alien life on a faraway planet. Top astronomers at the University of Cambridge told The Sun they are 99.7% confident they've spotted the best-ever signal of biological activity on K2-18b. 6 This is what the ocean world of K2-18b might look like first-hand Credit: Amanda Smith And they revealed that the best scenario that explains the discovery is that the planet is "teeming with life". The alien world is 120 lightyears away, and about 2.5x the size of Earth. Astronomers spotted a molecule called DMS in the planet's atmosphere. Here on Earth, DMS is produced by the tiny algae that live in the ocean. 6 These microscopic phytoplankton can't be seen with the human eye individually, but show up as coloured patches on water. Similar – but alien – lifeforms might be responsible for the DMS detected with extreme confidence on K2-18b. Lead scientist Professor Nikku Madhusudhan said 'there is no mechanism in the literature that can explain what we are seeing without life'. He told The Sun: 'It's a question humanity has been asking for thousands of years. It's a shock to the system. It takes time to recover from the enormity of it.'
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Exact type of lifeform that could live on brutal Mars surface revealed – even surviving deadly radiation bombardment
A TOUGH lifeform could survive the brutal conditions of Mars. That's the verdict from scientists who spent five hours blasting it with a year's worth of Martian radiation. 6 Mars is a brutal wasteland that is bombarded with dangerous radiation Credit: Nasa 6 Humans would need significant protection to survive on the red planet's surface Credit: Nasa 6 Scientists tested whether two forms of lichen – Cetraria aculeata and Diploschistes muscorum – could survive on Mars Credit: IMA Fungus Lichens are common on Earth, and is known for being hardy. And scientists now think that lichens could survive the ionising radiation that life experiences on Mars. This kind of But Read more on space discoveries Lichens are a strange "symbiotic" relationship between fungus and algae (or cyanobacteria). Scientists were able to show that this lichen relationship remained "metabolically active" even with exposed to Mars-like atmospheric conditions. That included being in darkness, and high X-ray radiation levels. They tested two species of lichen: Diploschistes muscorum and Cetraria aculeata. Most read in Science And they found that the former was cabale or surviving those brutal conditions – giving hope for the survival of an alien off-Earth lichen colony. "Our study is the first to demonstrate that the metabolism of the fungal partner in lichen symbiosis remained active while being in an environment resembling the surface of Mars," said Kaja Skubała, of Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, who led the research. Astronomer reacts to James Webb Space Telescope image of distant galaxies "We found that Diploschistes muscorum was able to carry out metabolic processes and activate defence mechanisms effectively. "These findings expand our understanding of biological processes under simulated Martian conditions. "And reveal how hydrated organisms respond to ionising radiation – one of the most critical challenges for survival and habitability on Mars. "Ultimately, this research deepens our knowledge of lichen adaptation and their potential for colonising extraterrestrial environments." 6 Sadly, this doesn't mean scientists have found – or will ever find – lichen already living on Mars. But it means that an alien colony of lichen could potentially survive Mars' harsh conditions. HUNTING FOR E.T. It comes in the same month as scientists revealing they're almost certain they've spotted a Top astronomers at the University of Cambridge told The Sun they are 99.7% confident they've spotted the best-ever signal of biological activity on 6 This is what the ocean world of K2-18b might look like first-hand Credit: Amanda Smith And they revealed that the best scenario that explains the discovery is that the planet is "teeming with life". The alien world is 120 lightyears away, and about 2.5x the size of Earth. Astronomers spotted a molecule called DMS in the planet's atmosphere. Here on Earth, DMS is produced by the tiny algae that live in the ocean. 6 These microscopic phytoplankton can't be seen with the human eye individually, but show up as coloured patches on water. Similar – but alien – lifeforms might be responsible for the DMS detected with extreme confidence on K2-18b. Lead scientist Professor Nikku Madhusudhan said 'there is no mechanism in the literature that can explain what we are seeing without life'. He told The Sun: 'It's a question humanity has been asking for thousands of years. It's a shock to the system. It takes time to recover from the enormity of it.' WHAT IS A HYCEAN WORLD? THE STORY OF K2-18b SO FAR Here's what you need to know... A Hycean world is a type of exoplanet – or planet outside of our solar system. Specifically, it's a planet that has both a liquid water ocean and a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. That's where the name comes from: Hycean is 'hydrogen' and 'ocean' combined. It was coined as a term in 2021 by astronomers at the University of Cambridge. Scientists think they're a top location to hunt for alien life. They expect life on Hycean worlds to be aquatic – that means no land mammals like here on Earth. One of the best candidates for life is K2-18b, because it appears to have both a Hycean atmosphere and biosignatures, or signs of life. The planet is 120 lightyears away from Earth, orbiting the red dwarf start K2-18. It's about 2.6 times bigger than Earth and has a 33-day orbit. K2-18b gets about the same amount of sunlight from its star as Earth receives from the Sun. It was first discovered in 2015, and water vapour was found in the atmosphere in 2019. Then in 2023, the James Webb Space Telescope picked up carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. Scientists later predicted that we might find potential biosignatures linked to life in the water ocean they believe to be on the planet. And in April 2025, scientists were finally able to say with 99.7% certainty the presence of a biosignature: a type of molecule called DMS, which is produced by marine phytoplankton here on Earth. It might mean that similar lifeforms exist on K2-18b too. Picture Credit: Nasa
The Sun
22-04-2025
- Science
- The Sun
Exact type of lifeform that could live on brutal Mars surface revealed – even surviving deadly radiation bombardment
Sean Keach, Head of Technology and Science Published: Invalid Date, A TOUGH lifeform could survive the brutal conditions of Mars. That's the verdict from scientists who spent five hours blasting it with a year's worth of Martian radiation. 5 5 Lichens are common on Earth, and is known for being hardy. And scientists now think that lichens could survive the ionising radiation that life experiences on Mars. This kind of radiation is extremely damaging, and is a serious threat to human plans for living on the red planet. But researchers writing in the journal IMA Fungus say they reckon lichens could survive on Mars today, despite the planet's barren surface. Lichens are a strange "symbiotic" relationship between fungus and algae (or cyanobacteria). Scientists were able to show that this lichen relationship remained "metabolically active" even with exposed to Mars-like atmospheric conditions. That included being in darkness, and high X-ray radiation levels. They tested two species of lichen: Diploschistes muscorum and Cetraria aculeata. And they found that the former was cabale or surviving those brutal conditions – giving hope for the survival of an alien off-Earth lichen colony. "Our study is the first to demonstrate that the metabolism of the fungal partner in lichen symbiosis remained active while being in an environment resembling the surface of Mars," said Kaja Skubała, of Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, who led the research. "We found that Diploschistes muscorum was able to carry out metabolic processes and activate defence mechanisms effectively. "These findings expand our understanding of biological processes under simulated Martian conditions. "And reveal how hydrated organisms respond to ionising radiation – one of the most critical challenges for survival and habitability on Mars. "Ultimately, this research deepens our knowledge of lichen adaptation and their potential for colonising extraterrestrial environments." Sadly, this doesn't mean scientists have found – or will ever find – lichen already living on Mars. But it means that an alien colony of lichen could potentially survive Mars' harsh conditions. HUNTING FOR E.T. It comes in the same month as scientists revealing they're almost certain they've spotted a key sign of alien life on a faraway planet. Top astronomers at the University of Cambridge told The Sun they are 99.7% confident they've spotted the best-ever signal of biological activity on K2-18b. 5 And they revealed that the best scenario that explains the discovery is that the planet is "teeming with life". The alien world is 120 lightyears away, and about 2.5x the size of Earth. Astronomers spotted a molecule called DMS in the planet's atmosphere. Here on Earth, DMS is produced by the tiny algae that live in the ocean. 5 These microscopic phytoplankton can't be seen with the human eye individually, but show up as coloured patches on water. Similar – but alien – lifeforms might be responsible for the DMS detected with extreme confidence on K2-18b. Lead scientist Professor Nikku Madhusudhan said 'there is no mechanism in the literature that can explain what we are seeing without life'. He told The Sun: 'It's a question humanity has been asking for thousands of years. It's a shock to the system. It takes time to recover from the enormity of it.' WHAT IS A HYCEAN WORLD? THE STORY OF K2-18b SO FAR Here's what you need to know... A Hycean world is a type of exoplanet – or planet outside of our solar system. Specifically, it's a planet that has both a liquid water ocean and a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. That's where the name comes from: Hycean is 'hydrogen' and 'ocean' combined. It was coined as a term in 2021 by astronomers at the University of Cambridge. Scientists think they're a top location to hunt for alien life. They expect life on Hycean worlds to be aquatic – that means no land mammals like here on Earth. One of the best candidates for life is K2-18b, because it appears to have both a Hycean atmosphere and biosignatures, or signs of life. The planet is 120 lightyears away from Earth, orbiting the red dwarf start K2-18. It's about 2.6 times bigger than Earth and has a 33-day orbit. K2-18b gets about the same amount of sunlight from its star as Earth receives from the Sun. It was first discovered in 2015, and water vapour was found in the atmosphere in 2019. Then in 2023, the James Webb Space Telescope picked up carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. Scientists later predicted that we might find potential biosignatures linked to life in the water ocean they believe to be on the planet. And in April 2025, scientists were finally able to say with 99.7% certainty the presence of a biosignature: a type of molecule called DMS, which is produced by marine phytoplankton here on Earth. It might mean that similar lifeforms exist on K2-18b too. Picture Credit: Nasa
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
These strange, hybrid Earth lifeforms could survive on Mars, new study hints
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Earth-based lifeforms known as lichens may be tough enough to survive on Mars, a new study suggests. Scientists came to this conclusion after blasting the lichens with a year's worth of Martian radiation in less than a day during a lab experiment — and the terrestrial lifeforms survived the process. Mars is not an easy place to live. The Red Planet is essentially one giant desert with a minimal atmosphere, low temperatures and no liquid water at its surface. But the biggest barrier to life on Mars is the lack of a strong magnetic field, which protects against the constant bombardment of ionizing radiation from cosmic rays and solar flares, which can damage living cells and mutate their DNA. One group of living things that may be able to survive these extreme conditions is lichens, symbiotic associations between fungi and photosynthetic bacteria and/or algae. These hybrid lifeforms, which are not considered true organisms but are listed as species on the three of life, work together to stay alive and many are extremophiles, capable of tolerating no hydration and extreme temperatures for long periods. Some species have even survived being directly exposed to the vacuum of space. In the new study, published March 31 in the journal IMA Fungus, researchers tested how two lichen species — Diploschistes muscorum and Cetraria aculeata — reacted to ionizing radiation under Martian conditions. To do this, the team placed the lifeforms in a specialized vacuum chamber at the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, which replicated the atmospheric pressure, temperatures and composition on the Red Planet. They bombarded the lichens with a year's worth of Martian radiation in just 5 hours. Both species were able to remain metabolically active throughout the tests. Related: Which animals will be the first to live on the moon and Mars? "These findings expand our understanding of biological processes under simulated Martian conditions and reveal how hydrated organisms respond to ionizing radiation," Kaja Skubała, a researcher at the Institute of Botany at the Jagellonian University in Krakow, Poland, said in a statement. "Ultimately, this research deepens our knowledge of lichen adaptation and their potential for colonizing extraterrestrial environments." Of the two species, D. muscorum showed the greatest resistance to the radiation, sustaining less damage to its cells, which suggests that some lichens will be better suited to Martian conditions than others. However, it is unlikely that any species would be able to survive on Mars unattended for long periods, as there is no known liquid water at the surface, which all of Earth's lifeforms need to survive. This is the reason why it is unlikely that there is any extraterrestrial life currently alive on Mars. According to the researchers, the new experiments show that lichens are prime candidates for being taken on future Mars missions, although there are several resilient species other than D. muscorum that could also make the trip. But lichens are not the only lifeforms that could potentially survive on the Red Planet. One extremophile group that has long been considered as future Martian tourists is tardigrades. These microscopic critters are nearly indestructible and can survive extreme temperatures, crushing pressures, total dehydration and the vacuum of space, largely thanks to an ability to switch off their metabolism and enter a state of suspended animation. Other candidates include mosses — plants with similar abilities to lichens. Some desert moss species have even been shown to be resilient to gamma rays and liquid nitrogen, hinting that they too could fare well on Mars. RELATED STORIES —NASA may have unknowingly found and killed alien life on Mars 50 years ago, scientist claims —Longest molecules ever found on Mars may be remnants of building blocks of life —NASA Mars rover finds 'first compelling detection' of potential fossilized life on the Red Planet Single-celled microorganisms, such as bacteria, might also be able to survive on Mars if they were sheltered from radiation, living underground. Research has shown that these microbes could also survive for hundreds of millions of years beneath the surface in a hibernation-like state. However, the first terrestrial lifeforms to touch down on Mars will likely be a species that is naturally very poorly suited to living on Mars — humans. NASA intends on launching the first crewed mission to the Red Planet sometime in the 2030s, when they will get a taste of how tough it is to survive there.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Lichens Thrive in Harsh Mars-Like Conditions, Groundbreaking Study Finds
Lichens are true pioneers, setting themselves up in environments so harsh as to be considered virtually barren. Given time, they can lay the foundations for whole fields of stone, sand, or even rooftops to transform into diverse ecosystems. So why not Mars? A team of biologists from Jagiellonian University in Poland and the Polish Academy of Sciences investigated just that in an experiment conducted inside the Polish Academy of Sciences' Space Research Center. They wanted to know which physical and biochemical properties might help lichens survive Mars-like conditions while remaining metabolically active. "Our study is the first to demonstrate that the metabolism of the fungal partner in lichen symbiosis remained active while being in an environment resembling the surface of Mars," says lead author Kaja Skubala, a botanist from Jagiellonian University in Poland. "These findings expand our understanding of biological processes under simulated Martian conditions and reveal how hydrated organisms respond to ionizing radiation – one of the most critical challenges for survival and habitability on Mars." Lichens are bizarre structures in which a fungus and an algae or cyanobacteria partner up to form a colony that can survive conditions they never would on their own. They can enter a state of dormancy when times are tough, reviving on contact with water to feed and grow once more. Like the tardigrades that sometimes inhabit their nooks and crannies their ability to survive Earth's harshest conditions makes them prime candidates for extraterrestrial study. Because the fungi-algae duos are fundamentally reliant upon one another, each kind of lichen is still named as if it is a single species. The two species entered in this Mars simulation were the crusty, pale, and bulbous Diploschistes muscorum, and the dark, branching, seaweed-like Cetraria aculeata. Each lichen was awoken with a light misting of water before being placed inside a vacuum chamber for five hours, with the first two hours set to a Martian daytime surface temperature of 18 degrees Celsius (about 64 degrees Fahrenheit), dropping gradually into a two-hour-long Martian night at -26 degrees Celsius. Gas consisting of 95 percent carbon dioxide was pumped into the tank to simulate a Martian atmosphere at ground level, with humidity ranging from an extremely arid 8 to 32 percent. The pressure was set to a very low 5 to 7 millibars, which is more than 1000 millibars lower than the pressure of Earth's atmosphere at sea level. How lichens cope with Martian levels of UV radiation and other harsh conditions has already been studied extensively, so Skubala and team were focused instead on the ionizing power of X-rays. The lichens were zapped with a 50-gray dose of X-ray radiation, comparable to what the surface of Mars can receive in a year via energetic Solar particles and flares. The red planet has a thin atmosphere and no global magnetic field; two factors that protect us Earthlings from the solar onslaught. Only one of the species survived these conditions: D. muscorum. The researchers think its heavy crust, laced with calcium oxalate crystals inside and out, might have protected it from radiation damage. "While calcium oxalate has a relatively low atomic number, which makes it less effective at absorbing X-rays than heavier elements, the dense crystal deposits on the [lichen's] surface could allow calcium atoms to interact with low-energy X-rays, absorbing part of their energy," the authors write. The other species, C. aculeata, did not fare so well, though it was selected for its ability to survive extreme Earth environments in the Arctic and Antarctic. The scientists knew the melanin pigments that give this lichen its dark brown to black colour would protect it from unbridled Martian sunburn, since the coloration can filter radiation in the UVB and UVA spectrum. But melanin is also a powerful antioxidant, which the team thought may help it withstand ionizing radiation. Yet, C. aculeata experienced high levels of stress from the X-rays, which showed up as damaged membranes, failing enzymes, and hydrogen peroxide build-up. Notably, this lichen has no calcium oxalate, which may be a deciding factor in Mars survival. Of course, whether we should introduce new species to unknown environments to achieve our goals is a different question – one we humans don't exactly have the best track record with. That's if it's even possible: a simulation like this provides just a small taste of the harsh realities of the red planet. "Ultimately, this research deepens our knowledge of lichen adaptation and their potential for colonizing extraterrestrial environments," Skubala says. This research was published in IMA Fungus. Climate Change Could Wipe 40% Off Global Economy, Study Predicts Oxygen Levels in Earth's Lakes Are Plummeting, Study Reveals Scientists Discovered An Amazing Practical Use For World's Leftover Coffee Grounds
