NASA: Rover on Mars was “surrounded” by 26 unknown (and resistant) microbes

Rover Phoenix has been sent to Mars for 18 years, but only now there are results. Unknown species resist extreme conditions.

O rover Phoenix It was sent to Mars in 2007. Almost 20 years later, results arise that arouse science, namely about biological contamination during space exploration.

NASA’s astronomers found that this rover was “Surrounded” by 26 unknown species. They were in the Phoenix assembly facilities.

The reveals samples collected at the Kennedy Space Center, within the clean rooms used to prepare the probe before its launch for Mars.

53 strains corresponding to 26 species of bacteria hitherto never documented were isolated.

But there is an impressive fact, it highlights: all these species resisted extreme conditionssurvived in concerted environments to be extremely sterile – with controlled conditions of temperature, moisture and air flow that prevent microbial proliferation.

The study shows that these bacteria have genes Adapted to DNA repair, detoxification of harmful substances and optimized metabolism.

These are the characteristics that allow them survive, even in environments where most life forms cannot survive.

“Identified genes can have applications in medicine, in the preservation of food and in others industrial fields ”, Commented study leader Junia Schultz.

These microbial capabilities can be used in future biotechnological developments.

In addition, this discovery can review the current protocols of Decontamination for Spatial Missions. The presence of microbes so resistant in supposedly sterile environments raises questions about biological security in future interplanetary explorations.