The moss could serve as the "basis for the establishment and
maintenance of the ecosystem by contributing to oxygen
production, carbon sequestration, and soil fertility", the
researched said in the study, published on July 1.
"(It) can help drive the atmospheric, geological, and ecological
processes required for other higher plants and animals while
facilitating the creation of new habitable environments
conducive to long-term human settlement," the paper added.
In the research, scientists found that even after losing more
than 98% of its cellular water content, the moss was able to
recover photosynthetic and physiological activities within
seconds after it was hydrated.
When intact, the plant can also tolerate ultra-low temperatures
and regenerate after being stored in a freezer at minus 80
degree Celsius (minus 112 Fahrenheit) for five years or in
liquid nitrogen for a month.
The moss is found in Xinjiang, Tibet, a Californian desert, the
Middle East and polar regions.
The race to place a larger footprint in space has spurred China
and the United States to launch exploration plans in recent
years.
Chinese missions include launching near-Earth asteroid probe
Tianwen-2 next year, and Tianwen-3 around 2030 to bring samples
back from Mars. China last month retrieved samples from the far
side of the moon.
In the United States, NASA has formulated a 20-year plan for
Mars, seeking answers to whether the red planet is habitable for
humans.
(Reporting by Liz Lee and Ryan Woo; editing by Miral Fahmy)
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