This humble plant is very hard to die, even on Mars.

A type of algae that can withstand almost any test imaginable could one day turn Mars green, Chinese researchers say.

humble moss Centricia caninervisa cosmopolitan species that grows even in Antarctica, has survived in conditions simulating the Martian environment, the Chinese Academy of Sciences team reported.

Experiments have shown that the hardy plant can withstand severe drought, radiation and cold at temperatures of up to tens of degrees below zero.

The researchers wrote in the journal that moss could be “the basis for establishing and maintaining ecosystems by contributing to oxygen production, carbon sequestration and soil fertility.” Innovation.

“It could aid in the atmospheric, geological and ecological processes necessary for higher plants and animals, while enabling the creation of new habitable environments that favour long-term human presence,” they say.

Tests have shown that even if it loses 98% of the water in its cells, it regains its normal functions, resuming photosynthesis within seconds if it gets wet.

It also withstands storage in the freezer at -80°C for 5 years, or even in liquid nitrogen for a month.

Chinese researchers seem to believe that the embryo in question could help with the “geomorphology” of Mars, and implement technological solutions to transform the planet into a welcoming, Earth-like world.

But for now, this possibility remains in the realm of science fiction.

NASA even makes sure that ships that land on Mars are sterilized to prevent the possibility of contaminating the planet with Earth bacteria.