Tag: life

Researchers Discover a Type of Moss That Can Grow on Mars

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Researchers in China have announced that they have discovered a type of moss capable of surviving on Mars.

Syntrichia caninervis, a moss typically found in extreme environments on Earth such as Antarctica and the Mojave Desert in the US, has shown resilience in Mars-like conditions. These conditions include severe drought, high radiation levels, and extreme cold.

The research team claims their study is pioneering in examining how plants might survive and thrive on the Martian surface.

For those writing science fiction that takes place on Mars, this could inspire some of your world building.

Read more here.

Life on Jupiter’s Ocean Moon Europa – Microfiction

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“Europa Tour” by Jessica Brook

Debra pulled a lever, filling her submarine’s ballast tanks with more water. The boat continued its descent through Europa’s narrow sea trenches. The thrusters groaned with effort against the building current. The Earther tourists didn’t notice. They pressed their noses against the windows, oohing and aahing at the sights. Translucent invertebrates swam around hydrothermal vents. Bioluminescent plankton glowed like fairy dust.

Debra answered all the tourist’s questions until someone asked, “And what’s that colorful confetti-like stuff we see sprinkled around?”

“Another type of plankton,” she lied, deciding not to tell them it was pieces of paint from previously crashed submarines.

Author Note: I haven’t seen much exploration of Jupiter’s ocean moon Europa in science fiction, so I wrote a 100 word piece about it.

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Similar Micro-fiction:

“The Burning Soldier” – Micro-fiction on Mercury