-
Question
Could a photosynthetic plant survive on Mars using the Sun's energy to perform photosynthesis?
There is plenty of sunlight on Mars to support photosynthesis -- the sun is brighter there than on a cloudy day on Earth. The problem that a plant would face is not lack of sunlight but low temperature and lack of liquid water. On Earth, some plants have managed to overcome similar problems by establishing themselves under the translucent skin of rocks. Here they can preserve a tiny bit of liquid water and also protect themselves from extremes of temperature while still obtaining enough sunlight for photosynthesis. Such plant colonies have been found inside rocks in the Antarctic. Whether anything similar could have arisen on Mars, we do not know -- but Mars is lot colder and dryer than the Antarctic on Earth.
David Morrison
NAI Senior Scientist
March 16, 2004
- How frequently are questions answered?
- I asked a question but there was no answer?
- Who is the Astrobiologist answering these questions?
- Will I get an email when my question is answered?
- What college courses should I take to become an astrobiologist?
- How can I get a job as an astrobiologist at NASA?
- Have aliens visited Earth? Are UFOs real?
- Is there a planet or brown dwarf called Nibiru or Eris that is approaching the Earth and threatening our planet with widespread destruction?
- Is it true that the Sun will be in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy in December 2012 and that this will cause a pole shift and massive destruction.
- Has NASA discovered life on other worlds?
- Astrobiology Career Path Suggestions
