Moss Survives 9 Months in Space Vacuum
20 hours ago
- #space biology
- #moss resilience
- #extraterrestrial ecosystems
- Moss spores survived nine months of exposure to open space conditions, including solar radiation, vacuum, and temperature swings.
- Over 80% of the spores germinated successfully after returning to Earth, surprising researchers who expected minimal survival.
- The moss showed minor changes in chlorophyll a but otherwise grew normally with no major stress signs.
- Mosses' evolutionary history as early land plants may explain their resilience to harsh conditions.
- Moss spores join tardigrades and certain microbes as organisms known to tolerate direct space exposure.
- The findings suggest mosses could be useful in future extraterrestrial ecosystem experiments on the Moon or Mars.