This tiny organism refused to die under Mars-like conditions

 This tiny organism refused to die under Mars-like conditions

Baker’s yeast isn’t just useful in the kitchen — it may also be built for space. Researchers found that yeast cells can survive intense shock waves and toxic chemicals similar to those on Mars. The cells protect themselves by forming special stress-response structures that help them endure extreme conditions. This resilience could make yeast a powerful model for astrobiology and future space missions.

Scientists exposed yeast cells to extreme conditions resembling Mars — violent shock waves from meteorite impacts and toxic perchlorate salts found in Martian soil — and the cells survived. Credit: Shutterstock
Baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is best known for its role in baking, brewing, and modern biotechnology. Yet this everyday microorganism may also offer insight into a far bigger question: how life might endure the extreme conditions found beyond Earth. Researchers from the Department of Biochemistry (BC) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), working with collaborators at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad, have discovered that yeast can survive environmental stresses similar to those on Mars. Their findings suggest that even simple life forms may be more resilient to extraterrestrial conditions than previously assumed.

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