Slimy bacteria may thrive in Mars brine

• Autores: Leah Crane
• Localización: New scientist, ISSN 0262-4079, Nº. 3110, 2017, pág. 11
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Slime could help microbe stowaways survive a trip to Mars--and thrive in the planet's salty waters once they arrive. Biofilms, colonies of cells embedded in a gooey protective coating, live longer than single cells when exposed to Mars-like brines--and even longer when they are dried out first, as they would be after traveling through space. Biofilms are everywhere on Earth, from dental plaque and pond scum to the systems used to clean up oil spills. They also protect microbes from antibiotics, radiation, temperature changes and other extreme conditions that would otherwise kill them immediately.