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‘Desert moss can survive on Mars,’ claim scientists from China Chinese researchers have reported that a hardy desert moss, Syntrichia caninervis , can endure a combination of extreme cold, intense radiation, severe dryness, and low-pressure carbon dioxide conditions designed to mimic aspects of Mars. The claim has drawn attention because the plant already survives in some of Earth’s harshest deserts, making it a useful model for studying how life tolerates environments once thought nearly impossible for biology. The findings sit at the intersection of astrobiology, future Mars exploration, and long-range terraforming concepts. While the experiments do not show that moss could simply be planted on Mars and grow there unaided, they suggest that certain terrestrial organisms may be far more resilient to Martian stressors than expected, offering clues for future life-support research and controlled off-world habitats. Guide Helped? Tip Us × # Preview Product Price 1 LEGO Technic NASA Mars Rover Perseverance Building Toys - STEM Model Kit for Boys & Girls, Ages 10+... Buy on Amazon 2 LEGO 30682 Technic NASA Mars Rover Perseverance Buy on Amazon 3 Hot Wheels 2014 Hw City Planet Heroes M…

Chinese Study Reveals the Potential of Moss Surviving and Thriving on Mars Chinese Study Reveals the Potential of Moss Surviving and Thriving on Mars 2024-07-08 A futuristic study conducted by Chinese scientists has shed light on the potential of using moss to transform Mars's barren red landscape into a lush green environment. Scientists have recently found that Syntrichia caninervis , a desert moss that thrives in various extreme environments on Earth, is a promising pioneer plant for colonizing extraterrestrial environments. The study, conducted by researchers from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG), the National Space Science Center, and the Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was recently published in the journal The Innovation. Syntrichia caninervis , also known as steppe screw moss, is a globally distributed moss species that flourishes in harsh deserts, mountainous regions and circumpolar regions. It forms part of the biological soil crust. Using samples from the Gurbantunggut Desert in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, one of the most concentrated distributions of steppe screw moss, the researchers evaluat…

Chinese Scientists Uncover Cold-Tolerance Secrets of Desert Moss for ... Researchers from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography under the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding the cold tolerance mechanisms of Syntrichia caninervis, commonly known as the steppe screw moss. The study delves into the molecular strategies that enable this desert moss to survive extreme cold conditions, a trait that holds significant promise for future Mars terraforming projects. By decoding these mechanisms, scientists aim to apply similar strategies to develop sustainable biological systems capable of thriving in the harsh Martian environment. The findings, recently published in the journal Plant, Cell & Environment , provide valuable insights into plant resilience and adaptability. This research not only enhances our comprehension of plant biology in extreme climates but also opens new avenues for space exploration and the potential colonization of other planets. Dr. Li Wei, a leading scientist at the institute, emphasized the importance of this study, stating, \"Understanding how Syntrichia caninervis adapts to cold stress is a crucial step towa…

Turning Red Planet into Green? Chinese Study Reveals Potential of ... LI Xiaoshuang (Left), a researcher at Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, discussesSyntrichia caninervis'extraordinary resilience under extreme environments with her student in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 5, 2024. (Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography under the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Handout via Xinhua) A futuristic study conducted by Chinese scientists has shed light on the potential of using moss to transform Mars's barren red landscape into a lush green environment. Scientists have recently found thatSyntrichia caninervis, a desert moss that thrives in various extreme environments on Earth, is a promising pioneer plant for colonizing extraterrestrial environments. The study, conducted by researchers from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG), the National Space Science Center, and the Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was recently published in the journal,The Innovation. Syntrichia caninervisis a globally distributed moss species that flourishes in harsh de…

China says desert moss suited to Mars as it tests hi-tech tools for space and astronauts China has hopes for a desert moss that it says could colonise Mars following a revival experiment inside a mini space laboratory that showed it was remarkably resilient, state broadcaster CCTV said on Monday. The plant, a highly drought-resistant species called Syntrichia caninervis, was revived after it was subjected to a series of extreme space conditions – including microgravity, intense radiation and severe dehydration – according to the report. Chinese scientists had previously established...

July 2024 - Space Settlement Progress AI generated image of Mars in the process of being terraformed. Credit: Image Creator Mars is currently not very hospitable to life, although it may have been billions of years ago. Many Mars settlement advocates and science fiction writers dream of the turning the Red Planet green by terraforming its atmosphere to make it more Earth-like. Even partially changing smaller regions, i.e. para-terraforming , would be a good first step. To get things started it would be helpful if there were organisms that could survive the frigid temperatures, low ambient pressure and harsh radiation on Mars while helping to boost the oxygen levels in the atmosphere and assisting with soil fertility. Fortunately, there is a desert moss called Syntrichia caninervis that fits the bill. In a report in the journal The Innovation a team* of Chinese researchers present results of a study that demonstrate the extremotolerance of this plant to conditions on the Red Planet. This hardy organism can withstand temperatures down to a frosty -197°C, has extreme desiccation tolerance recovering within seconds after losing 97% of its water content and is super resistant to gamma…

Chinese scientists find desert moss that can survive on Mars - CGTN Our Privacy Statement & Cookie Policy By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser. CGTN Copied Syntrichia caninervis can survive in an environment mimicking Mars. /CMG Scientists from Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science have found a desert moss, Syntrichia caninervis, which is able to withstand Mars-like conditions, including drought, high levels of radiation and extreme cold. Writing in the journal The Innovation, researchers describe how the desert moss not only survived but rapidly recovered from almost complete dehydration. It was also able to regenerate under normal growth conditions after spending up to five years at -80 degrees Celsius and up to 30 days at -196 degrees Celsius, and after exposure to gamma rays, with doses of around 500Gy even promoting new growth. The team then designed an environment mimicking Mars with similar pressures, temperatures, gases and UV radiation. They observed that the moss not only survived in the Mars-like setting …

China's desert moss survives Mars-like conditions aboard Qingzhou ... Share: Copied Listen to Article Audio Loading voice… 0.85× 1× 1.15× 1.3× 1.5× Synopsis A desert moss called Syntrichia caninervis survived microgravity, intense radiation, and severe dehydration aboard China's Qingzhou spacecraft — making it the most space-validated candidate yet for Mars colonisation and a potential cornerstone of future off-Earth ecological systems. Key Takeaways Syntrichia caninervis , a highly drought-resistant desert moss, was successfully revived after exposure to microgravity, intense radiation, and severe dehydration aboard China's Qingzhou spacecraft. The experiment results were released on Monday, 29 June 2026 , forming part of a second batch of in-orbit trial outcomes from the Qingzhou prototype cargo spacecraft. The Qingzhou spacecraft, developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Innovation Academy for Microsatellites (IAMCAS) , was launched on 30 March 2026 aboard a Kinetica-2 rocket from Jiuquan , northwestern China . Chinese scientists had previously validated the moss as a promising pioneer species in ground-based simulated Martian environments; the in-orbit data now provides r…