Space Lichens

moon_monkey writes "According to a report lichens - a composite of algae and fungi - can survive in space for up to two weeks. An experiment carried out by the European Space Agency saw two species of lichen carried into orbit and then exposed to the vacuum of space for nearly 15 days. These are the most complex form of life now known to have survived prolonged exposure to space. The experiment adds weight to the theory of panspermia - that life could somehow be transported between planets."

Comments

That's Not What the Article Said

[Greyfox]

The article states that the lichens were exposed to space for 2 weeks and were fine after that. The summary implies that 2 weeks is the upper limit for survival of the lichens. Those are two rather different outcomes.

What I get from this is that lichens can survive for an undetermined amount of time in space. Assuming they can survive reentry, a rock from Earth could potentially deliver lichens to Mars or elsewhere.

I liken this lichen is alien

[digitaldc]

"Lichens grow in the leftover spots of the natural world that are too harsh or limited for most other organisms. They are pioneers on bare rock, desert sand, cleared soil , dead wood, animal bones, rusty metal, and living bark. Able to shut down metabolically during periods of unfavorable conditions, they can survive extremes of heat, cold, and drought."

From: http://www.lichen.com/biology.html

They tend to thrive in unfavorable conditions, maybe there could be Lichen on Mars if it had a more stable atmosphere? They could also survive on a rusty hull of a space ship, so the panspermia theory is not too far off.

British Soldier Lichen is also very beautiful:
http://www.buenavistatownship.org/Photos/British%2 0soldier%20lichen.jpg

Re:Already done with mold

[Gabe Garza]

Not the same thing. The mold you're talking about in MIR would have been in the crew compartment, which, unless there's something I don't know about Russians, wouldn't have been a vacuum. The lichens discussed in the article were in a sealed container that, once the craft was in space, was opened. So they were completely exposed to the vacuum of space.

Re:Lightweight idea

[flyinwhitey]

"Organisms in small asteroids would be incinerated in earth's atmosphere"

No, you're wrong.

"As it falls through 80 km, it loses 3 to 6 mm of surface mass per second through ablation. The melted material and metal, heated to over 1800 C, is being swept away from the meteoroid, carrying away the accumulating surface heat so efficiently that the interior remains cool."

That was from meteorlab.com. Look it up so that next time you won't be spreading incorrect information.