Adding a small amount of water brought the moss back to life within seconds and resumed photosynthesis, converting carbon dioxide into the oxygen and carbohydrates essential to human survival on any planet, the researchers wrote. “While there is still a long way to go to create self-sustaining habitats on other planets, we have the great … Read more
NASA’s longest-running mission to Mars, the Mars Odyssey orbiter, has reached a special milestone by completing its 100,000th orbit of the Red Planet since its launch in 2001. This remarkable achievement not only underscores the sustainability and success of the mission, but also highlights the significant scientific contributions the spacecraft has made over more than … Read more
Phenotypic changes and physiological responses of S. caninervis plants during DR process. Credit: The innovation (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2024.100657 The desert moss Syntrichia caninervis is a promising candidate for colonization on Mars thanks to its extreme ability to endure harsh conditions that are lethal to most life forms. The moss is known for its ability to … Read more
silhouette of a person on top of a mountain staring at the galactic center of the Milky Way getty Every Monday I pick the celestial highlights for North America for the coming week (which also apply to the mid-northern latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Be sure to check View my main feed for more in-depth … Read more
While Matt Damon relied on potatoes grown in his crew’s biowaste in the hit film The Martian, researchers say it’s a simple desert moss that could be crucial to the emergence of life on Mars. Scientists in China say they have found it Syntrichia dogfish – a moss found in areas such as Antarctica and … Read more
A future civilization on Mars could be accompanied by a very special and resilient plant. A type of moss found in the desert – called Syntrichia caninervis—may be able to survive and thrive in the harsh conditions of Mars, according to a new paper in the journal Mars The innovation. This moss can grow in … Read more
NASA’s Odyssey spacecraft, the longest-running mission to Mars, today completed its 100,000th orbit around the Red Planet, the mission team announced in a press release. rack. To celebrate the milestone, the space agency has released an intricate panorama of Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano in the solar system; Odyssey captured the view in March. The … Read more
A key instrument on NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has been revived after six months of inactivity, renewing efforts to search for evidence of ancient microbial life on the Red Planet. The development marks a major milestone in the rover’s mission to explore Jezero Crater, an area believed to once have contained a lake and potentially … Read more
Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news about fascinating discoveries, scientific developments and more. CNN — Hundreds of basketball-sized space rocks slam into Mars every year, leaving impact craters and rumbling on the Red Planet, according to new research. Mission planners could use the revelations, captured in data collected … Read more
Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news about fascinating discoveries, scientific developments and more. CNN — Hundreds of basketball-sized space rocks hit Mars every year, according to new research. They leave impact craters and cause rumblings on the red planet. Mission planners can use the revelations, captured in data … Read more