A newly published study notes that a type of bacterium could survive in space outside the International Space Station, opening up the possibility that life could have traveled from Mars.
Research published in Frontiers in Microbiology notes that dry Dinococcus bacteria were able to survive three years outside the ISS on aluminum plates outside the floating space laboratory. It gives the concept of “panaspermia” to the hypothesis that the origin of life on Earth is caused by microorganisms in outer space.
“The origin of life on Earth is the greatest mystery of human beings,” study co-author Dr. Akihiko Yamagishi said in a statement. “Scientists may have very different views on this matter. Some believe that life is very rare and has only happened once in the universe, while others believe that life can happen on every suitable planet. If Panaspariya is possible. Life should exist more often than we thought it would. “
Bacterial exposure was experimented with between 2015 and 2018 using the exposure facility located on the exterior of the International Space Station’s Japanese experimental module Kibo. (Credit: JXA / NASA)
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The Dinococcus bacteria on the surface of the plateau died, but “this created a protective layer for the bacteria ensuring the survival of the colony,” the statement added.
Experts found that Denococcus, sometimes referred to as the “Conan Bacterium”, floated 7.5 miles above the Earth for its ability to survive difficult conditions.
Using survival data for bacteria between one and three years, Yamagashi and other researchers found that it lives anywhere from 15 millimeters and 15 to 45 years on the GER ISS. The researchers suggested that those that were more than 1 millimeter thick (size where Dinococcus were known to form large colonies) could live up to 8 years in space conditions, the researchers suggested.
Yamagishi added that the results indicate that the radioeractive Dinococcus will survive during its journey from Earth to Mars and vice versa, which is a period of several months or years in the short term.
The findings were part of the Japanese Tenpopo mission, of which Yamagishi is the chief investigator.
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Several previous studies have discussed the idea of panspermia, including one earlier this year, suggesting that comets could provide an “essential element” for life on Earth.
In 2019, NASA found sugar molecules on two different meteorites, adding to the belief that asteroids play a crucial role in supporting life.
NASA’s Perseverance Rover, which recently sailed to Earth from the Red Planet, will perform a number of tasks there, including the discovery of fossil evidence of extraterrestrial life.
NASA’s long-term goal is to send a manned mission to Mars in the 2030s.
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