Scientists Discover Desert Moss 'Syntrichia Caninervis' That Can Survive on Mars

Plant on Mars is an idea conceptualized by scientists as a possibility, both in the past and future of the Red Planet. For several decades, astronomers and space enthusiasts have considered Mars as a potential next destination and initialy colony for humanity's expansion across the universe. Earth's neighboring planet is even a common interest among modern popular culture, where it is relatively often portrayed in movies and video games.

The thought of plants surviving the Red Planet was even portrayed in the 2015 film "The Martian," where Hollywood actor Matt Damon was seen surviving alone on Mars and relying on planted potatoes. Meanwhile, the 2012 film "John Carter" shows Mars as a barren desert wasteland with no plants at all. Regardless, it seems that the notion of plants on Mars has become a reality after scientists found a desert moss on Earth that can potentially survive there.

According to a new study, scientists in China discovered a desert moss plant called Syntrichia caninervis which can be found in different parts of Earth, including the Mojave Desert and Antarctica. The study asserts that this plant can grow and survive the conditions on Mars, which is devoid of water on its surface. However, with human intervention, scientists believe humans can live with plants on Mars in the future.

Pioneer Plant on Mars

Based on the study published in the journal The Innovation on Monday, July 1, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences determined that the "extremotolerant" desert moss Syntrichia caninervis is an ideal candidate to be a pioneer plant on Mars. The said plant species is also reportedly capable of potentially colonizing extraterrestrial environments, which means planets outside of Earth.

Yet, this plant colonization feat can only be possible through human intervention, which includes planting the seeds in the soil or surface of the destined alien planet. Ingenious as it may seem, this task has been done already before. In 2022, it was reported that astronauts from the Artemis program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration had planned to grow plants on the Moon.

NASA's Designer Plants on Mars

This plan came after space biologists learned to grow plants in the actual soil of our lunar neighbor. Despite this success, more challenges lie ahead as future space expeditions will likely involve the planting of vegetation on extraterrestrial planets alongside humans. Following the novel discovery of Syntrichia caninervis, evidence may also lead to other plants that can potentially survive on Mars.

The plan to put plants on Mars goes back more than a decade ago. In 2013, NASA initiated a project called "designer plants on Mars" which involves the funding of scientists to design plants. Ideally, the flora should potentially survive the extreme environmental and climatic conditions on Mars.

So far, as of 2024, no native plants have been discovered yet on the Red Planet and tests of potential plant candidates on Mars were only conducted based on simulated conditions of the planet.