3 ms·

I wonder then how possible it is that some of the spores got settled in Mars and we have already contaminated Mars with Earth fungi.

jupp0r 3y ago
The equipment that has been sent to Mars has been sterilized in cleanroom conditions. Interplanetary contamination is something that space agencies take super seriously.
fluoridation 3y ago
Fungi have metabolisms similar to those of animals. They eat dead biomass, breathe oxygen, and drink water. Mars is a dead planet with a CO2-rich atmosphere and no liquid water. Even if a spore got transported there, it would not be able to germinate.
- anonymouskimmer 3y ago
  Mars does indeed have liquid water, and a chance at more of it: https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-01-18/massive-deposits-of-water-ice-discovered-on-the-equator-of-mars.html https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-01-18/massive-d... : In 2018, Mars Express located a large lake of liquid water under the Martian polar ice. https://web.archive.org/web/20210902121223/https://earthsky.org/space/mars-ice-is-dusty-and-could-melt-study-says/ https://web.archive.org/web/20210902121223/https://earthsky.... : There is a chance that this dusty and dark ice might melt a few centimeters down. And any subsurface liquid water produced from melting will be protected from evaporating in Mars’ wispy atmosphere by the overlying blanket of ice. Is it likely that Fungi would end up in the right places on Mars, and even then grow in these conditions? Probably not. But worth investigating given what is known of psychrophilic fungi. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11157-016-9395-9 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11157-016-9395-9 : Fungi are able to grow and survive at low temperature and exist widely in polar and non-polar habitats. These cold regions are known for very low temperature, high ultra violet-B radiation, frequent freeze and thaw cycles and low water and nutrient availability.
  - fluoridation 3y ago
    Given what is known of fungi in general, there's no need to investigate it. Fungi and animals can't thrive in extremely low oxygen concentrations. Some species are especially hardy and are able to survive extreme conditions, but none are able to sustain their biological processes without oxygen.
    - anonymouskimmer 3y ago
      Anaerobic fungi exist. If they exist in the gut they're capable of existing elsewhere. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33193229/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33193229/ The main user of oxygen is the mitochondria, and even some non-anaerobic fungi can survive fine after losing their mitochondria.

jupp0r 3y ago

The equipment that has been sent to Mars has been sterilized in cleanroom conditions. Interplanetary contamination is something that space agencies take super seriously.

fluoridation 3y ago

Fungi have metabolisms similar to those of animals. They eat dead biomass, breathe oxygen, and drink water. Mars is a dead planet with a CO2-rich atmosphere and no liquid water. Even if a spore got transported there, it would not be able to germinate.

anonymouskimmer 3y ago
Mars does indeed have liquid water, and a chance at more of it: https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-01-18/massive-deposits-of-water-ice-discovered-on-the-equator-of-mars.html https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2024-01-18/massive-d... : In 2018, Mars Express located a large lake of liquid water under the Martian polar ice. https://web.archive.org/web/20210902121223/https://earthsky.org/space/mars-ice-is-dusty-and-could-melt-study-says/ https://web.archive.org/web/20210902121223/https://earthsky.... : There is a chance that this dusty and dark ice might melt a few centimeters down. And any subsurface liquid water produced from melting will be protected from evaporating in Mars’ wispy atmosphere by the overlying blanket of ice. Is it likely that Fungi would end up in the right places on Mars, and even then grow in these conditions? Probably not. But worth investigating given what is known of psychrophilic fungi. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11157-016-9395-9 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11157-016-9395-9 : Fungi are able to grow and survive at low temperature and exist widely in polar and non-polar habitats. These cold regions are known for very low temperature, high ultra violet-B radiation, frequent freeze and thaw cycles and low water and nutrient availability.
- fluoridation 3y ago
  Given what is known of fungi in general, there's no need to investigate it. Fungi and animals can't thrive in extremely low oxygen concentrations. Some species are especially hardy and are able to survive extreme conditions, but none are able to sustain their biological processes without oxygen.
  - anonymouskimmer 3y ago
    Anaerobic fungi exist. If they exist in the gut they're capable of existing elsewhere. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33193229/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33193229/ The main user of oxygen is the mitochondria, and even some non-anaerobic fungi can survive fine after losing their mitochondria.