VOA科学技术2024--Researchers: Desert Moss Could Support Colonies on Mars

Scientists have identified a kind of desert moss¹ that could help support possible colonies on Mars, a study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences showed recently.

The moss - Syntrichia Caninervis - was able to survive Mars-like conditions of extreme dryness, very low temperatures and radiation, the research shows. The study appeared recently in the publication The Innovation.

The moss could serve as the "basis for the establishment and maintenance of the ecosystem² by contributing to oxygen production, carbon sequestration, and soil fertility," the study said.

The paper added, "(It) can help drive the atmospheric³, geological, and ecological⁴ processes required for other higher plants and animals" while helping⁵ to create new environments that could support long-term human settlement.

The study shows that the moss could return quickly to health even after losing more than 98 percent of its cellular⁶ water. The plant was able to recover its normal operation seconds after getting water.

The plant can also survive very low temperatures. It can recover or regenerate⁷ after being stored in a freezer at -80 degrees Celsius⁸ for five years. It can survive a month in liquid nitrogen, the researchers found.

Researchers collected the study plants from a desert in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous⁹ Region of China. The moss also grows in Tibet, the American state of California, the Middle East and polar areas.

China and the United States have announced a number of space exploration plans in recent years.

Chinese missions include launching a near-Earth asteroid¹⁰ probe Tianwen-2 next year, and Tianwen-3 around 2030 to collect material from Mars and bring it to Earth for study. Last month, a Chinese mission collected materials from the far side of the moon.

The American space agency NASA has developed a 20-year plan for Mars exploration. It is investigating whether the red planet could support human population.

Words in This Story

maintenance - n. the act of keeping property or equipment in good condition by making repairs

contribute - v. to give or supply (something, such as money or time) as a part or share

carbon sequestration - n. any of various methods for capturing and storing carbon dioxide

probe - n. an attempt to explore or learn about some unknown place

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 ecosystem   

n.生态系统

参考例句：

• This destroyed the ecosystem of the island.这样破坏了岛上的生态系统。
• We all have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.维持生态系统的完整是我们共同的利益。

3 atmospheric   

adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的

参考例句：

• Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
• Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。

4 ecological   

adj.生态的，生态学的

参考例句：

• The region has been declared an ecological disaster zone.这个地区已经宣布为生态灾难区。
• Each animal has its ecological niche.每种动物都有自己的生态位.

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 cellular   

adj.移动的；细胞的，由细胞组成的

参考例句：

• She has a cellular telephone in her car.她的汽车里有一部无线通讯电话机。
• Many people use cellular materials as sensitive elements in hygrometers.很多人用蜂窝状的材料作为测量温度的传感元件。

7 regenerate   

vt.使恢复，使新生；vi.恢复，再生；adj.恢复的

参考例句：

• Their aim is to regenerate British industry.他们的目的是复兴英国的工业。
• Although it is not easy,you have the power to regenerate your life.尽管这不容易，但你有使生活重获新生的能力。

8 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

9 autonomous   

adj.自治的；独立的

参考例句：

• They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
• This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

10 asteroid   

n.小行星；海盘车(动物)

参考例句：

• Astronomers have yet to witness an asteroid impact with another planet.天文学家还没有目击过小行星撞击其它行星。
• It's very unlikely that an asteroid will crash into Earth but the danger exists.小行星撞地球的可能性很小，但这样的危险还是存在的。