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Microbes Survive Moon’s South Pole, Boosting Lunar Exploration
Confirmed
The team found that all five microbes could survive for at least 24 hours in certain areas of the moon’s southern pole. In the end, the researchers found that the lunar south pole could host several locations where microbes could survive, specifically noting that Aspergillus niger could potentially survive given its resistance to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
These findings were recently published in Science Advances and could help scientists, mission planners, and future astronauts develop methods for addressing microbes during long-term missions to the Moon and beyond. “When we think of the Moon, we don’t typically think of biology,” said Dr. Heather Graham , who is an organic chemist at NASA Goddard whose research focuses on identifying “agnostic biosignatures”, or biology that doesn’t look like Earth’s, and is a co-author on the study.
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The hardiest microbe was Aspergillus niger , a fungus commonly found in showers and water heaters.
What's confirmed
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- The team found that all five microbes could survive for at least 24 hours in certain areas of the moon’s southern pole.
- The hardiest microbe was Aspergillus niger , a fungus commonly found in showers and water heaters.
- It is published by the Society for Science, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education (EIN 53-0196483). © Society for Science & the Public…
- These findings were recently published in Science Advances and could help scientists, mission planners, and future astronauts develop methods for addressing microbes during long-term missions to the Moon and beyond.
- In the end, the researchers found that the lunar south pole could host several locations where microbes could survive, specifically noting that Aspergillus niger could potentially survive given its resistance to…
- “When we think of the Moon, we don’t typically think of biology,” said Dr. Heather Graham , who is an organic chemist at NASA Goddard whose research focuses on identifying “agnostic biosignatures”, or biology that…