Desert Moss Could Kickstart Mars Habitats by Surviving Extreme Dehydration
Researchers spotlight Syntrichia caninervis, a desert moss from Earth, as a potential Mars pioneer: it can survive near-total dehydration (losing up to 98% of its water), endure temperatures as low as -196°C, and resist gamma radiation, suggesting it could gradually modify Martian soil and even produce oxygen, with scientists exploring whether such traits could eventually boost crops like wheat for long‑term space missions.