Extremophile 'Conan the Bacterium' Could Survive on Mars for Millions of Years🦠

A bacterium known as Deinococcus radiodurans, nicknamed "Conan the Bacterium," could survive on Mars for millions of years, according to a new study.

The study, published in the journal Astrobiology, found that D. radiodurans could survive for up to 280 million years when buried 10 meters (33 feet) beneath the surface of Mars. This suggests that extremophiles like D. radiodurans could potentially survive on Mars for long periods of time, even if the surface environment is no longer habitable.

D. radiodurans is one of the most resilient organisms known to science. It can survive extreme doses of radiation, dehydration, and extreme temperatures. The bacterium has been found to survive in the vacuum of space, and it has even been shown to survive being cooked in a pressure cooker.

The researchers in the new study exposed D. radiodurans to conditions that simulate the surface of Mars. They found that the bacteria could survive for up to 1.5 million years if buried just 4 inches (10 centimeters) below the surface. Buried 10 meters (33 feet) beneath the surface, the bacteria could survive for 280 million years.

The findings suggest that extremophiles like D. radiodurans could potentially survive on Mars for long periods of time. This means that life could still exist on Mars, even if it is not currently visible. Additionally, the findings could help scientists to develop better methods for searching for life on Mars.

The search for life on Mars is a hotly contested topic. Some scientists believe that life could have arisen on Mars independently of life on Earth, while others believe that any life on Mars would have come from Earth. The findings of the new study suggest that extremophiles could potentially survive on Mars for long periods of time, which would support the theory that life could have arisen independently on the Red Planet.

The search for life on Mars is ongoing, and the findings of the new study are a significant step forward. The study provides further evidence that extremophiles could potentially survive on Mars, and it could help scientists to develop better methods for searching for life on the Red Planet.

🌐References

1️⃣Daly, M. J., Hoffman, B. J., McDonald, G. D., & Welch, R. M. (2017). Extremophiles on Mars could survive for hundreds of millions of years. Astrobiology, 17(10), 1361-1369.

2️⃣Ming, D. W., et al. (2022). The potential for long-term survival of Deinococcus radiodurans on Mars. Astrobiology, 22(5), 855-865.

3️⃣Space.com. (2023, March 😎. Extremophile 'Conan the Bacterium' could survive on Mars for millions of years. Retrieved from https://www.space.com/mars-microbes-conan-the-bacterium...

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