Moss Archives - Astrobiology

Design of the space exposure unit and assemblage of samples for the space exposure experiment (A) The space exposure unit with a UV-blocking filter installed. A UV-blocking filter, which only allows light above 400 nm to pass, was added below the MgF2 window. A double-layered sample holder was installed, designed so that the samples placed in the lower section would not be exposed to light. (B) The space exposure unit without a UV-blocking filter installed.(C) Design of sample holder (unit: mm). (D) Top: a schematic showing a single well (5.5 mm in diameter) with samples (sporophytes) installed. Brown: sporophytes, blue: ES of cyanobacteria as adhesive, black: aluminum foil, gray: sample holder. Bottom: the actual appearance of the sporophytes installed in the sample holder. (E) Impact assessment of ES. After treating both ES-primed sporophytes and control sporophytes with dark conditions or 2 MJ/m2 of UVC (254 nm), the germination rate was observed. Different letters indicate statistically significant differences as determined by ANOVA with Tukey’s HSD post hoc test. The numbers inside the bar graphs represent the sample sizes. Error bar: SD. (F) The completed space exposure unit. -- iScience via PubMed

Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Microgravity, Plant Biology, Sample Return, Space Agriculture, Space Life Science, Space Stations, Status Report, Terraforming & Geoengineering

Extreme Environmental Tolerance And Space Survivability Of The Moss, Physcomitrium patens

by Keith CowingJanuary 8, 2026January 8, 2026

Climate change highlights the importance of understanding life’s survival limits for addressing global challenges and supporting future human habitation beyond Earth. Plants, as photosynthetic organisms, play a vital role in […]

A reddish-brown sporophyte can be seen at the top center of a leafy gametophore. This capsule contains numerous spores inside. Mature sporophytes like these were individually collected and used as samples for the space exposure experiment conducted on the exposure facility of the International Space Station (ISS). CREDIT Tomomichi Fujita

Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Gravitational Biology, Microgravity, Missions & Hardware, Panspermia, Plant Biology, Press Release, Space Agriculture, Space Life Science, Space Stations

This Moss Survived 9 Months Directly Exposed To The Elements Of Space

by Keith CowingNovember 21, 2025November 21, 2025

Mosses thrive in the most extreme environments on Earth, from the peaks of the Himalayas to the sands of Death Valley, the Antarctic tundra to the lava fields of active […]

The branching moss Physcomitrium patens, which the researchers used to study stress reactions and compare them to algae (microscope image). -- Credit Tatyana Darienko

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Fossils & Paleontology, Gaia - Planetary Perspectives, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Origin & Evolution of Life, Plant Biology, Press Release

600 Million Years Of Stress Guide Planet Evolution on Earth

by Keith CowingMarch 12, 2025

Without plants on land, humans could not live on Earth. From mosses to ferns to grasses to trees, plants are our food, fodder and timber. All this diversity emerged from […]

A circle dish contains 13 green fuzzy moss plants that are circular and the size of marbles. On the right side of the photo, there is a square box with a red outline that contains another image of one of the circles zoomed in to show the grassy texture of the sample; it is mainly dark green and with a lighter green around the edges. An example of moss plants grown for the ARTEMOSS mission -- NASA larger image

Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Microgravity, Plant Biology, Radiation, Space Agriculture, Space Life Science, Space Stations, Status Report

Offworld Life Science: ARTEMOSS (Antarctic Isolate 1 (ANT1) Radiation Tolerance Experiment

by Keith CowingNovember 20, 2024November 20, 2024

ARTEMOSS (Antarctic Isolate 1 (ANT1) Radiation Tolerance Experiment with Moss in Orbit on the Space Station) Overview: This experiment will be a continuation of research already underway on Earth on […]

Plant Biology, Press Release

Genes That First Enabled Plants To Grow Leaves Identified

by Keith CowingAugust 6, 2019

The genes that first enabled plants to grow shoots and conquer the land have been identified by University of Bristol researchers. The findings, published in Current Biology [1 August], explain […]

Moss Core collection - BAS

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Cryobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Plant Biology, Press Release, Sample Return, Space Agriculture

Moss Brought Back to Life After 1,500 Years Frozen in Ice

by Keith CowingMarch 17, 2014December 1, 2024

Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey and Reading University have demonstrated that, after over 1,500 years frozen in Antarctic ice, moss can come back to life and continue to grow.