By: Leo Li

Did you know that a type of moss can grow on Mars? Well, if you’re wondering which type of moss I am talking about, it’s the species Syntrichia caninervis.

This moss is usually found in remote and harsh environments on Earth, such as Antarctica or the Mojave Desert in the US. But scientists have now discovered that the Syntrichia caninervis can survive in conditions like Mars’.

The BBC reported that researchers tested out the moss under conditions similar to those of Mars, including in an atmosphere made up of 95% carbon dioxide gas, a temperature as low as -196°C, high ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and low atmospheric pressure.

What’s fascinating is that “the moss not only survived but rapidly recovered from almost complete loss of water,” said the Chinese researchers per the BBC article. They think that astronauts will be able to plant moss on Mars in the future as more and more magical plants begin to reveal their importance as adaptable to the severe conditions to humankind.

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