Scientists Intrigued by Moss Surviving on Exterior of Space Station

""Understanding the resilience of Earth-born organisms in extreme and unfamiliar conditions, such as the space environment, is a crucial step toward expanding human habitats other than Earth like the Moon or Mars," the paper reads. "Studying the survival limits of living organisms in both terrestrial and space environments will not only enhance our understanding of their adaptability but also help us prepare for the challenges of sustaining ecosystems.""

"It's not exactly surprising for moss to survive a harsh environment; the plants, technically called bryophytes, reproduce via spores instead of seeds and have long been known to thrive in extreme environments such as the Arctic and hot desert climes. Previous studies have shown that moss can even survive simulations of the hostile surface of Mars. But to really put moss through its paces, the team of Japanese researchers wanted to expose the organism to real outer space conditions - complete with radiation, the coldness of space, and the effects of microgravity."

"A team of Japanese scientists discovered moss' resilience for space travel after they germinated a clutch of moss spores that spent several months hanging outside the International Space Station, finding that over 80 percent survived the voyage and were able to germinate successfully, with results published in a study in the journal iScience."

Moss spores exposed outside the International Space Station for several months showed over 80% survival and successfully germinated. Different cell types from Physcomitrium patens were tested for tolerance to space-specific stressors including radiation, extreme cold, ultraviolet light, and microgravity. Spores encased in a spongy external sporangium exhibited the greatest resilience to extreme temperatures and ultraviolet radiation. Bryophytes reproduce via spores and already thrive in Arctic and desert extremes, and prior Mars-surface simulations indicated possible survival. High spore resilience suggests moss could serve as a durable component of future extraterrestrial ecosystems supportive of human habitats on the Moon or Mars.

Read at Futurism