This Bacteria Could Help Us Understand the Origins of Life
Why It Matters
If microbes can survive such extreme forces, the possibility of life spreading between planets becomes more plausible, shaping astrobiology research and planetary protection policies.
Key Takeaways
- •Deinococcus radiodurans survived metal impact at >400 mph in experiment.
- •Bacteria endured pressures over 2 GPa, far beyond ocean depths.
- •Survival linked to antioxidants, rapid DNA repair, and sturdy cell envelope.
- •Results suggest lithopanspermia could be plausible, not impossible.
- •Findings broaden extremophile limits, informing astrobiology and origin‑of‑life research.
Summary
Researchers at a European laboratory fired a piece of metal at Deinococcus radiodurans at over 400 miles per hour, subjecting the bacteria to extreme shock and pressure to test its survivability in space‑like conditions.
The impact generated pressures exceeding two gigapascals—about twenty times the pressure at the deepest ocean trench—yet the microbes remained viable. Their resilience is credited to high antioxidant levels, an efficient DNA‑repair system, and a robust cell envelope that acts like armor.
Deinococcus has previously survived three years on the exterior of the International Space Station, tolerating radiation thousands of times lethal to humans and the vacuum of space. This new data adds extreme pressure to the list of stresses the organism can endure.
These results lend credence to the lithopanspermia hypothesis, suggesting that microbes could survive ejection from a planet and the harsh transit through space, thereby informing the search for life beyond Earth and guiding future planetary protection protocols.
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