Most planetary scientists agree that Mars’ extreme conditions would be uninhabitable to life as we know it. New research, however, suggests that we might be underestimating the hardiness of lichens.

For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that certain lichen species can survive Mars-like conditions, including exposure to ionizing radiation, while maintaining a metabolically active state ...

Lichens have no roots, no waxy leaves and no way to filter what they absorb. Everything they take in comes directly from the ...

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