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Meet the Weird and Wonderful Life-forms That Can Survive in Space
- Space exposure shows moss spores are highly resilient to UV, cold, and heat compared with other tissues.
- Spores germinated on Earth after a long space sojourn, with over 80% germination observed.
- The moss Physcomitrium patens was studied to assess space tolerance among its tissues.
- Researchers outside the ISS tested spores on a platform from March to December 2022.
- Dormancy may help spores tolerate space conditions, prompting genetic investigations.
- Space survival tests included UV exposure, freezing, and high temperatures to simulate harsh conditions.
- The study aims to understand how terrestrial life could support human habitats beyond Earth.
- Space biology expert Robert Ferl commented on the significance of finding terrestrial life in space.
- Researchers plan to identify genes involved in spores’ space tolerance for UV-induced damage.
- The study appears in iScience with collaboration from Hokkaido University and others.
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