Education

UF-led study finds Earth microbes can grow under Mars-like conditions

University of Florida researcher Adam Robinson led an experiment in which a salt-loving microorganism called Haloferax volcanii actively grew for 160 days under conditions resembling the Martian subsurface — including extremely low pressure, highly concentrated brine, and perchlorate chemicals. The findings, published November 5 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, suggest that salty liquid-water pockets theorized to exist beneath Mars’ surface could potentially support living organisms today. Researchers cautioned that the simulated environment has not been confirmed on Mars and that the results do not prove life exists there, but the study points future missions toward searching for active biology rather than only ancient traces.

Sources: UF News