Merdeka.com – In a recent experiment, a team of scientists found that bacteria can survive longer on the dry surface of Mars, which is 280 million years old. Scientists also revealed that the duration of the bacteria’s survival increases the chances for humans to find evidence of life on Mars.
Previously, scientists experimented with hydrated bacteria to find out how long the bacteria could survive in the high radiation and dry surface of Mars. The experiments also show that bacteria can only survive a million years on Mars.
But another study was conducted by Brian Hoffman of Northwestern University Illinois, United States (USA) and his team. Hoffman and his team conducted experiments that began with drying various bacteria and yeasts and freezing them before being exposed to radiation similar to that on Mars.
The experiment is similar to freezing dry food to make it last longer. Mars itself is a dry but cold planet, so the bacteria tested must be compatible with Martian conditions.
The experiments showed that the bacterial samples were slightly damaged by the radiation. Hoffman and his team also estimate that the bacteria can survive for up to 280 million years.
“There is a phenomenal doubling of resistance when everything dries and cools,” explains Hoffman, quoted by New Scientist, Thursday (27/10).
2 of 2 pages
