Life on the Red Planet: Microbes Could Colonize Mars before Humans
Life on the Red Planet: Microbes Could Colonize Mars before Humans
Mars is one of the most studied planets in the universe. The red planet is perfect for those who are intrigued by the mysteries of the solar system. The race to colonize Mars is on and if scientists are to be believed, microbes may beat the humans in a bid to establish a home in the red planet. Hardy micro-organisms from the earth could reach the surface of Mars on space crafts, according to NASA scientists.
This could pose a major problem for the scientists who are endeavouring to find out whether life ever existed on Mars. The possibility that bacteria could hitch a ride on spacecrafts and reach the red planet is complicating matters for space scientists. Scientists may inadvertently assume that bacteria existed from before on Mars.
It will also be difficult to determine if life existed from before on Mars, due to such reasons. Scientists are more concerned about the invaders from our planet chiefly the bacteria. Research data from the International Space Station points to the risks of interplanetary exchange of organisms.
Spacecrafts landing on the red planet or other planets may contaminate these planets as well. Life may exist on planets where microbes can thrive. The capability of a planet to sustain allowable levels of microbial life is known as bioburden.
The acceptable levels of microbial life were determined on the basis of how life forms survive exposure to the rigours associated with space travel. Life forms do not survive under harsh conditions. According to Kasturi J Venkateswaran, a researcher at the Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a writer of three important papers on this topic.
Recent research has demonstrated that some microbes are hardier than others. Some bacteria may even use protective mechanisms to survive flights across different planets. Spore forming bacteria are particularly important because they have greater capacity to survive harsh space conditions. Spores can tolerate certain sterilisation procedures. They are able to survive harsh living conditions prevailing in outer space or planetary surfaces.
Spores of bacterium called Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032 have demonstrated a high resistance to techniques used for cleaning spacecrafts. This includes ultraviolet radiation and peroxide treatment. When the organisms were exposed to a simulated Mars environment, this species of spores survived 30 minutes whereas standard spores last only around 30 seconds.
For a recent experiment, Bacillus pumilus SAFR-032 were exposed for 18 months on a test facility known as the European Technology Exposure Facility mounted outside the International Space Station. Following the testing of the exposure to the simulation of the Mars environment, EuTEF gave scientists the chance to observe what happens to the bacteria in real space.
Some of the spores which survived for about 18 months had higher concentrations of proteins associated with UV radiation resistance and showed elevations in the level of UV resistance when revived and exposed again on earth. There has been an increasing amount of speculation that life on earth may actually have arrived from the red planet. Now, reports are indicating the bacteria from earth may be reaching Mars in the form of microbes which can survive harsh space conditions. As science advances, the knowledge of the universe around us grows. However, there are limitations to science which only sheer genius can overcome. Studies such as these point to the ingenuity and expertise of space scientists in modern times.
