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A thin atmosphere, freezing temperatures, and a barrage of radiation: the surface of Mars is hardly a prime holiday destination. But can any life survive there?
Known for their extreme tolerance to harsh environments such as Earth’s deserts and polar regions, lichens have long been considered a leading candidate for Martian survival. And, for the first time, researchers have demonstrated that certain species can survive Mars-like conditions, including exposure to ionising radiation, while maintaining a metabolically active state.
Published in the open-access journal IMA Fungus, a new study highlights the potential for lichens to survive and function on the Martian surface, challenging previous assumptions that the planet is uninhabitable.
But what exactly are lichens? It’s a little complicated. In fact, lichens are not a single organism, but rather a symbiotic association between a fungus and algae and/or cyanobacteria.
In this study, the fungal partner in lichen symbiosis remained metabolically active when exposed to Mars-like atmospheric conditions in darkness, including X-ray radiation levels expected on Mars over one year of strong solar activity.
The research focuses on two lichen species (yes, there are lichen species despite them being a symbiosis), Diploschistes muscorum and Cetraria aculeata, selected for their differing traits. The lichens were exposed to Mars-like conditions for five hours in a simulation of the planet’s atmospheric composition, pressure, temperature fluctuations, and X-ray radiation.
The findings suggest that lichens, particularly D. muscorum, could potentially survive on Mars despite the high doses of X-ray radiation associated with solar flares and energetic particles reaching the planet’s surface. These results challenge the assumption that ionising radiation is an insurmountable barrier to life on Mars and set the stage for further research on the potential for extraterrestrial microbial and symbiotic survival.
“Our study is the first to demonstrate that the metabolism of the fungal partner in lichen symbiosis remained active while being in an environment resembling the surface of Mars. We found that Diploschistes muscorum was able to carry out metabolic processes and activate defense mechanisms effectively.
“These findings expand our understanding of biological processes under simulated Martian conditions and reveal how hydrated organisms respond to ionizing radiation – one of the most critical challenges for survival and habitability on Mars. Ultimately, this research deepens our knowledge of lichen adaptation and their potential for colonizing extraterrestrial environments.”
Lead author of the paper, Kaja Skubała.
Further long-term studies investigating the impact of chronic radiation exposure on lichens have been recommended, as well as experiments assessing their survival in real Martian environments.
Researchers from Jagiellonian University and the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences conducted the study with support from the National Science Centre, Poland, and the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” at the Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University.
Original study
Skubała K, Chowaniec K, Kowaliński M, Mrozek T, Bąkała J, Latkowska E, Myśliwa-Kurdziel B (2025) Ionizing radiation resilience: how metabolically active lichens endure exposure to the simulated Mars atmosphere. IMA Fungus 16: e145477. https://doi.org/10.3897/imafungus.16.145477
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