Live long and prosper, Xanthoria elegans
Space is a hostile environment for living things, but small organisms on the Expose-E experiment unit outside Europe's Columbus ISS laboratory module have resisted the solar UV radiation, cosmic rays, vacuum and varying temperatures for 18 months. A certain lichen seems to be particularly happy in open space!
Here on Earth, living organisms can be found almost everywhere, from the abysses of the oceans to the highest mountain peaks. Even extremely dry deserts and cold glaciers support some kind of life.
Recent findings from martian meteorite samples provide stronger evidence that life might have existed within our neighbouring planet too, so perhaps there is also some kind of life on the red surface of Mars. To find out how our terrestrial organisms survive in space conditions, ESA has backed astrobiological research for more than 20 years. "The purpose is to increase our knowledge on the origin, evolution and adaptations of life and also provide an experimental basis for recommendations for planetary protection," says René Demets, a biologist working in ESA.
Bron: ESA portal
Link: <A href="http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM72XRJR4G_in ... l#subhead2
