Moss Spores Survive 9 Months on the Outside of the Space Station

In the immortal words of Jeff Goldblum, life finds a way. Physcomitrella patens is known as a hardy pioneer species of spreading moss. Scientists at Hokkaido University tested the moss spores in extreme conditions, then sent them to the ISS where astronauts stuck containers on the exterior hull for 9 months.

Compared to a germination rate of 97% on Earth, the space-abused spores returned and reproduced 86% of the time. "If such spores can endure long-term exposure during interplanetary travel, they could one day contribute to establishing basic ecosystems beyond Earth," said Dr. Tomomichi Fujita. Mosses could help with oxygen generation, humidity control, or even soil formation on future missions.

“Physcomitrella patens is known as a hardy pioneer species of spreading moss.”