Curiosity to Mars could bring terrestrial microorganisms

This, of course, of the micro, not the animals, especially humans. Recently in the prestigious journal Nature published the results of a study whose purpose - to find out, can you survive the microorganisms with antibacterial treatment apparatus, before sending it to Mars. In addition, scientists have tried to figure out which bacteria could move space travel, and "landing" on Mars.

An interesting point is that after all the procedures for decontamination of the rover, it found 65 surviving species of bacteria. Some species - are resistant to low temperatures, and UV, and an increased radiation background.

In general, the probability that the terrestrial bacteria survive on Mars and will thrive there, very small. But here's the background contamination of soil samples taken rover, it may well be. Of course, this greatly complicates the task of finding life on Mars, as separate "the wheat from the chaff", ie actual results of background contamination terrestrial bacteria, it can be difficult.

By the way, despite the fact that the antibacterial treatment of the rover, in theory, should destroy any form of life, in practice, things were a little different. Previously, сообщалось, that the developers did not follow the procedure rover fully, which resulted in the survival of some species of microorganisms.

The article states that in the atmosphere of Mars can survive about 377 species of terrestrial bacteria, many of which are resistant to the above factors, such as increased / decreased temperature and radiation background.

For the current expedition, in principle, contamination of samples is not so scary. But in 2020 it is planned sampling rocks from Mars, with their subsequent delivery to Earth. And in this case, any background traces of earthly life on the Martian samples - like death, because the whole expedition could be useless.

Via nature

Source: habrahabr.ru/post/223805/