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Could we introduce bacteria or other microorganisms to live on Mars, or moons with water? (lemmy.blahaj.zone)

submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/askscience

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Could they reasonably survive? If so, what would be the effects of such an introduction?

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-49525-z#Sec2

The results of the studies showed that after two years of exposure in outer space near the ISS, all the tested microorganisms representing various domains of life survived.

It's a bit more complicated than that, but in short: yes. However, survive doesn't necessarily mean thrive.

Space agencies go to great lengths to sterilize things that leave our planet. There's several reasons for that, but the big one is not contaminating any extra-terrestrial bodies with earth organisms so that if we do find any trace of life, we can be reasonably sure it is native to where we found it and didn't stowaway on our equipment.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Meanwhile Elon Musk is launching bio-contaminants into space: https://www.vice.com/en/article/elon-musk-bacteria-contamination-spacex-tesla-panspermia/

The future is bleak as long as it's determined by people like Musk.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I didn't even think of that. I was thinking sane space-bound ventures. But yeah, you're totally right.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago

yeah, unfortunately "sane" is no longer on the table, at least in the U.S.