Chinese scientists find likely 'pioneer plant' that may survive on Mars

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) – A new study by Chinese scientists indicated that a desert moss capable of withstanding extreme drought and cold on Earth may act as a pioneer plant on Mars, potentially facilitating future human colonization.

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered that Syntrichia caninervis thrives in environments such as the Tibetan Plateau, Mojave Desert, and Antarctica by entering a form of hibernation that can last for years, the South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday.

According to a paper published by the peer-reviewed journal The Innovation on Monday, the moss quickly revived when it was rehydrated after losing nearly all its cell water or spending years in a freezer at -80 degrees Celsius (-112 Fahrenheit).

The addition of a small amount of water saw the moss bounce back to life “within seconds” and resume photosynthesis, turning carbon dioxide into the oxygen and carbohydrates essential to human survival on any planet, the researchers wrote.

“Although there is still a long way to go to create self-sufficient habitats on other planets, we demonstrated the great potential of S. caninervis as a pioneer plant for growth on Mars,” they said.