Study where there is life on Mars through the frozen frost of the South Pole

Credits: Georadar survey in a frozen lake in Antarctica (Foto Dalle Fratte © PNRA)

(CNR) – An Italian research team established by the Institute for the Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council ( Cnr-Iamc ) of Messina, with the Universities of Insubria, Perugia, Bolzano, Trieste, Venice and Tuscia , studied in Antarctica on brine very salty liquids, in which microorganisms that have adapted to live in cryo-ecosystems (characterized extreme systems) at low temperatures). The study was conducted in a frozen lake of Tarn Flat, in Victoria Land, where two distinct communities of mushrooms were found in two layers of gel, separated by a thin layer of 12 cm ice. The results obtained were published in the journal Scientific Reports

"What is highlighted allows one to hypothesize life expectancy even in similar environments, such as the Moon . The hypothesis that some form of life may exist in extraterrestrial environments is related to the fact that the possible presence of brine has been detected, as in Antarctica, "explains Maurizio Azzaro from Cnr-Iamc, co-author of the study. "Cryo-ecosystems are designed to understand how these realities work on Earth and what could be the sources of energy that can allow life in similar extreme conditions." We still do not know if there are any microbes in the dogs of other planets of the solar system, but to study the possible habitability of these extraterrestrial systems, in the future, terrestrial microbes could be implanted. "

To study in depth the hooves of some lakes permanently frozen, a group of researchers will leave this year for the South Pole. The mission will begin in November, last about a month and cover the cryo-ecosystems (already studied during two past scientific expeditions of Pnra, in 2014 and 2017) that we know welcome brine in liquid form. In addition, we will use ground penetrating radar to identify other lakes that may contain brine, "Azzaro concludes. " Frozen lakes with a corer to be drilled with a corer then the gel will be taken sterile to be processed and badyzed in the laboratories of the Italian scientific station Mario Zucchelli [19459004WewillthereforetrytoisolateandcharacterizethemicrobialstrainspresentinthelaboratoryusingbothculturemethodsandtheextractionofDNAfromtheprocaryoticcomponent( bacteria ] and archaebacteria) and eukaryotes.The goal of these studies is to increase knowledge about microbial life in extreme environments and to understand how it can be supported in cryo-terrestrial environments, from 39 to acquire elements useful for the hypothesis of similar systems in other frozen worlds of the Universe.The project is carried out within the framework of the National Antarctic Research Program ( Pnra), funded by the Ministry of Education, University and Research and implemented by Enea for logistical aspects and by the National Research Council.