Microbes Survive Harsh Early-Mars Analog Conditions
A research team studying the Poás volcano in Costa Rica has found a growing microbe community surviving in the harsh, acidic crater lake.
Helping us understand the past of Mars, since we haven’t gone there with humans, yet, is studying what we call analog sites here on Earth — places that bear striking similarities to Martian landscapes or features.
In new research published in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Science led by graduate student Justin Wang, a research team studied the Poás volcano in Costa Rica. The hydrothermal crater lake on the volcano is considered to be one of the most inhospitable locations on Earth, ultra-acidic, and full of toxic metals. The water temperature can range from pleasant and comfortable to, well, boiling.
Oh, and rock and ash explosions happen on a recurring basis. So really not good for life.
And yet. And yet, over the past ten years, they have found microbes living in the lake. In fact, while they only found one species there back in 2013, the 2017 visit revealed some biodiversity occurring.
A DNA sequencing of the organisms found biochemical capabilities that help them tolerate the conditions. Per the press release: These…
