Moss Spores Demonstrate Remarkable Resilience in Space
A team of researchers from Japan has tested protonemata (juvenile moss), brood cells (specialized stem cells that emerge under stress conditions) and sporophytes (encapsulated spores) of the model moss species Physcomitrium patens under simulated space environments, identifying spores as the most resilient, and subsequently exposed them to the space surroundings outside the International Space Station (ISS). After nine months in space, over 80% of the spores survived, retaining their ability to germinate. These results demonstrate the remarkable resilience of Physcomitrium patens spores in space and reveal the potential of terrestrial plants to endure extreme environments.
Physcomitrium patens spores survive simulated space conditions with high resilience. Image credit: Maeng et al., doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.113827.
As Earth’s environment undergoes rapid changes in recent years, it has become increasingly notable to explore new possibilities for the survival of life beyond our planet.
Understanding the resilience of Earth-born organisms in extreme and unfamiliar conditions, such as the space environment, is a crucial step toward expanding human habitats to locations like the Moon or Mars.
Studying the survival limits of living organisms in both terrestrial and space environments will not only enhance the understanding of their adaptability but also help us prepare for the challenges of sustaining ecosystems.
“Most living organisms, including humans, cannot survive even briefly in the vacuum of space,” said Dr. Tomomichi Fujita, a researcher at Hokkaido University.
“However, the moss spores retained their vitality after nine months of direct exposure.”
“This provides striking evidence that the life that has evolved on Earth possesses, at the cellular level, intrinsic mechanisms to endure the conditions of space.”
In their study, Dr. Fujita and colleagues subjected Physcomitrium patens, a well-studied moss commonly known as the spreading earthmoss, to a simulated space environment, including high levels of UV radiation, extreme high and low temperatures, and vacuum conditions.
They tested three different structures from Physcomitrium patens – protonemata, brood cells, and sporophytes – to find out which had the best chance of surviving in space.