Microbes Might Survive on Mars | SciShow News

TL;DR

Mars missions may carry microbes from Earth that could survive on the planet's harsh surface, posing a contamination risk. On the other hand, scientists are researching how to use microbes to produce food and resources for future astronauts.

Transcript

Last week, the Mars rover Perseverance made it safely to the surface of Mars. Over the two years or so, the car-sized rover will be driving around the red planet, looking for signs of ancient life. But, according to a new study in Frontiers in Microbiology, there’s a chance, albeit slim, of finding somewhat recently-dead microbes or even current li... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🚀 Mars missions may carry microbes from Earth that could survive on the planet's surface, posing a contamination risk and potential harm to astronauts.
• 🍄 Aspergillus fungi, a potential microbial hitchhiker, can survive on Mars without UV shielding, increasing the need for caution in mission planning.
• 😘 Researchers are exploring the use of microbes like cyanobacteria to produce oxygen and serve as a protein source for future Mars missions, but face challenges due to Mars' low atmospheric pressure.
• 🙂 The Atmos bioreactor offers a potential solution for growing cyanobacteria on Mars, using available Martian resources and a lighter, low-pressure enclosure.
• 🧑‍🌾 Further research and optimization are needed to ensure efficient bacterial growth and the viability of a cyanobacteria farm on Mars.
• 😋 The success of utilizing microbes for Mars colonization would reduce reliance on Earth for essential resources like oxygen, water, and food.
• 🏆 Testing this technology on Mars is crucial for its practical application and advancement towards establishing a Martian colony.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the potential risk of carrying microbes from Earth to Mars?

Microbes from Earth could survive on Mars and contaminate the planet's potential biosphere or pose a health risk to future astronauts, as seen with Aspergillus fungi causing infections and growth on the International Space Station.

Q: How did scientists simulate Mars-like conditions in the MARSBOx study?

The researchers used a specially designed microbe habitat called the MARSBOx, which was filled with gases similar to Mars' atmosphere and attached to a scientific balloon that reached the outer part of Earth's atmosphere. Some microbes, including Aspergillus, survived the experiment.

Q: How are scientists exploring the use of microbes for future Mars missions?

Scientists are researching the possibility of using microbes like cyanobacteria to produce oxygen and serve as a protein source on Mars. However, the low atmospheric pressure and unique conditions on Mars present challenges to bacterial growth and gas uptake.

Q: What is the Atmos bioreactor, and how could it contribute to Mars colonization?

The Atmos bioreactor is a proof-of-concept enclosure that allows cyanobacteria to thrive under Mars-like atmospheric conditions. This technology could potentially support the growth of a Martian food chain, providing oxygen and nutrition with minimal support from Earth.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Mars missions could unintentionally carry microbial hitchhikers that could survive on the planet's surface, posing a risk of contamination and potential harm to astronauts.

• Researchers have conducted a study using a microbe habitat called the MARSBOx to simulate Mars-like conditions and found that certain microbes, such as Aspergillus fungi, could survive even without UV shielding.

• Scientists are also exploring the possibility of using microbes like cyanobacteria to produce oxygen and act as a protein source on Mars, but face challenges due to the planet's low atmospheric pressure.