Feb 18, 2021 07:00:00

Research shows that a species of algae may also be able to photosynthesize on Mars, raising expectations for terraforming

Mars , the planet of the solar system, has long been expected to be a destination for humankind. NASA aims for manned exploration of Mars by 2033, and private company SpaceX is also planning to build a city on Mars. The 'atmosphere' is a major barrier to human life on Mars, but on February 16, 2021, scientists announced the results of research that ' cyanobacteria that photosynthesize can grow on Mars.' Did.

Frontiers | A Low-Pressure, N2 / CO2 Atmosphere Is Suitable for Cyanobacterium-Based Life-Support Systems on Mars | Microbiology
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.611798/full

Biotech fit for the Red Planet | EurekAlert! Science News
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/f-bff021221.php

The atmosphere on Mars is 95% carbon dioxide and 3% nitrogen, but cyanobacteria can take up both and utilize them by carbon fixation and nitrogen fixation . However, the atmospheric pressure on Mars is about 6hPa to 11hPa, which is about 1/100 of that of the earth, and cyanobacteria are not sufficiently metabolized under such conditions. Recreating the Earth's atmosphere on Mars is also technically difficult, so scientists have steered in search of cyanobacteria that can grow on Mars.

Scientists have developed a bioreactor ' Atmos ' that can reproduce a low voltage of 100 hPa. Nine containers made of glass and steel were placed inside, the inside was filled with nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and a medium containing nutrients such as phosphorus, sulfur, and calcium, which are thought to exist in the sedimentary layer of Mars, was installed. ..

Next, '

Anabaena ' cyanobacteria, which were shown to withstand harsh conditions in previous experiments, were encapsulated in Atmos and observed for 10 days. As a result, we confirmed that active growth was observed.

Scientists have also succeeded in drying the grown Anabaena genus and using it as a substrate for E. coli. This demonstrates that the sugars and amino acids from cyanobacteria can nourish other bacteria, and scientists say they can also make food and medicine on Mars.

Scientists have stated that they need to experiment under conditions closer to Mars, and will continue to study other species of cyanobacteria and other nutritional conditions.