NASA-led study: Some Earth microbes can survive on the Moon

Astronauts wear specialized suits, and spacecraft are designed with advanced protective measures, because the Moon is an environment inhospitable to humans and most life forms on Earth, due to the absence of breathable air, extreme temperatures, and continuous exposure to space radiation and high-energy particles, according to Reuters. However, the situation may differ for microbes that are almost inevitably carried by astronauts during exploration missions. New research, led by scientists from the US space agency NASA and involving five species of fungi and bacteria, has shown that some of them may indeed be able to survive for a period under specific conditions on the lunar surface, a discovery that raises concerns about the potential unintentional transfer of Earth life forms to the Moon. The studies indicate that some microorganisms could withstand conditions for periods ranging from weeks to months in certain locations, such as craters that remain permanently in shadow, as well as during specific seasons like autumn and winter, according to planetary scientist Prabal Saxena from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The results showed that the two fungal species included in the study were more resilient than the three bacterial species tested. Among the fungi examined was Aspergillus (black mold), which typically thrives in warm, humid environments such as bathrooms and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Astronauts had previously found it inside the International Space Station, and experiments had shown it capable of surviving even outside the station while it was in orbit.