Research finds that certain types of bacteria can survive the extreme conditions of Mars
Experts from various fields such as radiation, biology and infectious diseases formed an international team and conducted a study that discovered that there are four types of bacteria that can survive in the hostile Martian environment.< /p>
Microbiologists have discovered that some types of bacteria can survive in extremely aggressive conditions both on Earth and in space. These bacteria can thrive in places with high levels of radiation, salt, extreme temperatures and lack of water. Moreover, one type of bacteria was found outside the space station, and others were found in the meteorite material.
These results raise concerns about the safety of astronauts traveling to places like Mars — if bacteria from Earth gets on them or their equipment, it can cause illness or even death. In their new study, scientists wondered whether bacteria from Earth could survive in Martian conditions.
To test this possibility, the researchers created a Martian environment in their laboratory with a regolith substitute, low temperatures, no oxygen, and exposure to radiation. They then added four types of bacteria in turn: Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Burkholderia cepacia. All these bacteria are capable of infecting humans.
In the first stage, the team tested how each type of bacteria responded to each of the modeled factors. They then exposed all four types of bacteria to all simulated conditions simultaneously. They found that certain factors, such as the presence of sodium perchlorate in the soil, significantly limited the growth of one type of bacteria — Burkholderia cepacia. Additionally, decreased environmental humidity levels resulted in decreased survival of all types of bacteria.
However, the researchers also found that all four types of bacteria were able to survive to some extent when exposed to all the factors typical of Mars. Three of them survived for 21 days, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa even multiplied.
A research team has concluded that bacteria accidentally introduced to Mars could pose a health risk to astronauts, especially if they mutate to better survive harsh conditions.