"Survival of Lichen on International Space Station Exterior"

Lichen from Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys survived 18 months on a platform attached to the outside of the International Space Station's Columbus module, demonstrating potential for life to exist on Mars. Despite emerging in worse shape than temperate lichens tested separately in "Mars-like conditions," over 60% of the cells remained intact after exposure to Mars, indicating lichen's resilience to extreme conditions in outer space. This study adds to previous evidence of lichen's ability to withstand the harsh environment of space, suggesting its potential for survival beyond Earth.