Antarctic microbes survive in a climate similar to Mars – 04/14/2024 – Science

An Antarctic microbial mat survived environmental conditions similar to those on Mars, and although the experiment only lasted a few weeks, the microorganisms not only survived but maintained “some biological activity,” a prerequisite for adapting and thriving in hostile environments. like the red planet.

The experiment was carried out by a team of researchers from UAM (Autonomous University of Madrid) and the Astrobiology Center in Spain, with the help of a simulation chamber that recreates the climatic conditions and day-night cycle of Mars.

For 15 days, the team exposed cyanobacterial mats from Antarctica to the planet’s extreme environment, mimicking aspects such as pressure, surface and ambient temperature, gas composition and radiation, and the planet’s moisture and hydration cycle.

Simulator

Thus, the simulator imitated the pressure on Mars, which is around seven millibars —between a hundred and a thousand times lower than on Earth—, the temperatures —which fluctuate up to 70°C between day and night—, the differences between winter and summer and variations at the poles in relation to other areas.

Furthermore, the red planet’s moisture and hydration cycle was reproduced, which causes the processes of freezing, melting, evaporation, condensation and sublimation on that planet and which allowed Antarctic microorganisms to survive in this extreme environment.

The results of the experiment show that the majority of the numerous microorganisms in this complex community not only survive the extreme conditions to which they were exposed, but also maintain some biological activity, a good indication that this microbial consortium could adapt and sustain itself over time. .

The researchers believe that it was the association of the different bacteria that make up the microbial mat that allowed the microorganisms to survive. Although the results are not conclusive, the researchers believe they offer good prospects.

“Perhaps this indicates that microbial consortia from extreme environments on Earth, such as the cyanobacterial mats of Antarctica, can be maintained and perhaps thrive in extremely hostile extraterrestrial environments, such as Mars,” says UAM researcher and co-author of the experiment, Antonio Quesada.

However, he emphasizes, “We do not propose that these communities could currently exist on Mars, as our experiment lasted only two weeks, which, although a period of annual growth close to that usual in the most extreme places in Antarctica, is short. and other aspects must be considered, such as access to nutrients or the dispersion and survival of these structures on the Martian surface in the long term.”