Detecting bacteria resistant to living conditions on Mars

The scientific name of bacteria is Planococcus halocryophilus. This discovery helps scientists gain more hope to find life on Mars.

The bacterium is capable of surviving in a chemical called perchlorate - found in many types of Martian soil. Perchlorate significantly reduces the freezing point of water and carries very high toxicity.

, which exists in the permafrost of the Arctic, is also thought to be "peaceful" even on Pluto and satellites orbiting Saturn and Jupiter.

Scientists at the Technical University of Berlin, Tufts University, Royal University of London and Washington State University tested their tolerance in sodium, magnesium and calcium chloride environments, as well as perchlorate.

The research team wanted to find out the viability of bacteria in different perchlorate concentrations .

Planococcus halocryophilus has the ability to survive in a chemical discovered on Mars.

The average temperature of Mars falls between -60 ° C, and at the extreme temperatures drops to -125 ° C. The team also included bacteria in many freezing / thawing cycles from -50 ° C to 25 ° C.

They found that their survival rate in perchlorate was actually much lower than the rest of the environments.

However, according to Jacob Heninz of the Technical University of Berlin, the presence of this substance is not necessarily "preventing life from growing on Mars or anywhere else".

He said that in 10% perchlorate concentration, bacteria can still multiply. Perchlorate, on the other hand, only accounts for less than 1% by weight of soil on the Martian surface.

At (the world's driest environment) in Chile and some areas of Antarctica exist relatively high perchlorate levels. It is quite possible that bacteria evolved to cope with such toxicity, according to Theresa Fisher at Arizona State University.

According to her, when bacteria are stressed, they will form shock reactions. Next, they produce separate proteins to regulate, survive and adapt in adverse environments.

Along with the discovery of the ocean beneath Jupiter's surface, the organic matter on Mars, and the ocean's hydrothermal vortex of orbiting Saturn, speculative scientists may exist

However, life on those planets faces extremely harsh environments.

Planococcus halocryophilus bacteria.