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 ionising radiation, while maintaining a metabolically active state ...

Throughout history, when pioneers set out across uncharted territory to settle in distant lands, they carried with them only the essentials: tools, seeds and clothing. Anything else would have to come ...

Researchers bombarded lichens with a year's worth of Martian radiation in just 5 hours — and they survived, hinting that the extremophiles could potentially live on the Red Planet. When you purchase ...

The point is that we can easily deal with that much of radiation. You are applying a wrong logic, worrying only about "how much higher than Earth surface that is" and then coming to "oh noes its 200 ...

Whether anything ever lived on Mars is unknown. And the present environment, with harsh temperatures, intense radiation, and a sparse atmosphere, isn’t exactly propitious for life. Despite the red ...

Any life on Mars in the past, present, or future would have to contend with challenging conditions including, among others, shock waves from meteorite impacts and soil perchlorates—highly oxidizing ...