‘Magnetic shields’ could help bacteria survive on Mars, Chinese scientists say

Name: Are we alone? Chris Hadfield on UFOs, the ISS and China in space | Talking Post with Yonden Lhatoo
Uploaded: 2022-07-12T14:58:23.000Z
Duration: 21 min 16 s
Description: Are we alone? Chris Hadfield on UFOs, the ISS and China in space | Talking Post with Yonden Lhatoo

Researchers send box full of bacteria to near space, but only those containing magnetic particles can endure harsh UV radiation

Future experiments on whether the microorganisms can live near space stations are ‘highly anticipated’, according to study

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Mars is exposed to high levels of radiation and has a much thinner atmosphere than Earth. Photo: Shutterstock

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Published: 10:58pm, 12 Jul 2022Updated: 12:14am, 13 Jul 2022

A common type of bacteria could potentially survive on Mars thanks to a “magnetic shield” that protects the microorganisms from radiation, according to a new study led by Chinese scientists.

The team launched a scientific balloon to near space, exposing a box of bacteria to solar UV radiation for hours under conditions that are similar to the environment on Mars.

They found that some strains of magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), which thrive in environments that lack oxygen, survived at 23km (14 miles) above sea level after seven hours of exposure, while all other types of bacteria died.

MTB are microorganisms commonly found in fresh water and marine habitats. They synthesise magnetic iron nanominerals, which act as a compass to help the bacteria navigate using the Earth’s geomagnetic field.

21:16

Are we alone? Chris Hadfield on UFOs, the ISS and China in space | Talking Post with Yonden Lhatoo

When exposed to near space, the magnetic particles in the bacteria might have helped them survive UV radiation, according to the researchers.

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