Researchers have discovered that Syntrichia caninervis, a desert moss found in places like Antarctica and the Mojave Desert, can survive conditions similar to those on Mars, including extreme cold, high radiation, and drought.
The moss was able to regenerate after exposure to Mars-like environments and might play a crucial role in future space colonization by helping transform Martian soil for other plants. However, while promising, experts caution that the moss’s ability to support long-term plant growth and provide significant oxygen on Mars is still uncertain, and many challenges remain before Mars can be made habitable.