News Microbes

Ancient bacteria could persist beneath Mars’ surface

Radiation-tolerant microbes might survive there for hundreds of millions of years

A close up of orange bacteria on a yellow background

Radiation-tolerant bacteria similar to this Deinococcus radiodurans would be particularly well-suited to surviving Mars’ harsh, freezing environment, a new study suggests.

Michael J. Daly/USU

By Sid Perkins

Radiation-tolerant microbes might be able to live beneath Mars’ surface for hundreds of millions of years and may yet persist today, thanks in part — counterintuitively — to the Red Planet’s frigid, arid conditions.

In addition to being cold and dry, the Martian surface is constantly bombarded by cosmic rays, charged particles and other radiation from space.