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Lichens can survive almost anything, and some might survive Mars

The symbiotic organisms appear to be able to avoid some radiation damage.

When the lichens emerged from their simulated Martian habitat, both species were found to have retained some moisture despite a lack of humidity, so the researchers assumed that at least some metabolic activity was going on in both the fungal and photosynthetic components. “Our findings lay the foundation for future studies, including long-term exposure experiments on the Mars surface,” she and her team said optimistically in the same paper. It may help a lichen to survive ionizing radiation, but that doesn’t mean it can provide equivalent protection to us—we should think twice before we attempt to put boots on Mars.

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