By: Daniel Deng

In the last year, scientists in China have claimed to have discovered a species of moss that would survive on Mars. If true, this would be a huge advancement in the effort to get humans to Mars, and then survive there. The scientists put this moss to the test in extreme heat, cold, and Martian conditions to prove its capabilities. This species, known as Funaria hygrometrica, is capturing space enthusiast’s attention.

The experiments done on the moss, conducted by multiple teams across China, tested the limits of the moss by putting it under harsh conditions one by one. These conditions, despite simulating the harsh landscapes of mars, did not kill the plant. Shockingly, the moss not only survived, but thrived, continuing to photosynthesize and grow. This plant leads the way in research for finding more plants that could survive on the red planet. Mars, which has conditions that have temperatures dropping to negative eighty degrees Fahrenheit and having harsh UV rays, are all due to its thin atmosphere. By understanding how Funaria Hygrometrica works in harsh conditions, scientists can look for similar traits in other plants to further pave the way for human colonization of the planet by using photosynthesis to cool down the atmosphere and produce oxygen.

The effects of this discovery are far reaching and brings humanity closer to the long-standing goal of reaching Mars since plants produce oxygen which will allow humans to survive without fancy equipment that produces air. More importantly however, it opens up new potential in the biological field and study of plant resistance. Despite the exciting news, there is still more research to be done regarding this curious moss and its limitless potential.

Image Credit by Ron Lach