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Moss Spores Survive 9 Months In Space Before Successfully Reproducing Back On Earth
Over 80% of moss spores survived nine months outside the ISS and germinated on return, demonstrating potential for plant resilience in space environments, researchers said.
- A team publishing in iScience reported more than 80% of Physcomitrium patens spores survived nine months outside the ISS, with roughly 90 percent germinating after return.
- With an eye to the Moon and Mars, researchers sought to use Physcomitrium patens to help build ecosystems on these targets, led by Tomomichi Fujita, professor at Hokkaido University.
- Testing three life stages showed juvenile protonemata died from UV or extreme temperatures while sporophytes survived-196°C, 55°C and 10,000 joules UV for 283 days.
- Based on survival rates, the team estimates enough spores could survive around 15 years to establish a moss garden, but researchers say DNA damage assessments are needed.
- The results place moss among other hardy organisms that have survived space exposure, but scientists caution the ISS benefits from Earth's magnetic field and deep space radiation remains a serious concern for seed viability.
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Moss spores survived nine months in outer space and were able to reproduce normally upon return to Earth, a new study by Japanese scientists from Hokkaido University shows.
·Belgrade, Serbia
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Scientists put moss on the outside of the International Space Station for 9 months — then kept it growing back on Earth
A species of moss survived for 9 months on the outside of the International Space Station, new research reveals — and 80% of the samples kept reproducing when returned to Earth.
·United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources35
Leaning Left11Leaning Right4Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 32%
R 18%
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