Earth bacteria have withstood enormous pressures

Terrestrial bacteria are able to withstand extreme loads.

British scientists have shown that earth bacteria can survive in conditions of ultrahigh pressures in particular, remain intact fallen from space to the planet meteorite. A study published in the journal Icarus, briefly about it reports New Scientist.

In the laboratory, the scientists conducted tests simulating the conditions in which would be earthly bacteria Shewanella oneidensis, which is falling on the planet meteorite. Single-celled organisms into two or three microseconds were under the influence of shock compression (1.5 and 2.5 gigapascal) and for 15 minutes, static pressure (0.75 mm of gigapascal).

Bacteria experienced a momentary shock compression, better preserved than exposed to static pressure. First, in addition, demonstrated the ability to reproduce. The reason for the survival of the bacteria scientists see in particular the structure of its cell wall, also, experts do not exclude the presence of Shewanella oneidensis specific mutations.

Microorganisms in the experiment, experts were at low temperatures, in the future, the authors plan to conduct experiments at high temperatures.

The research results indicate that terrestrial bacteria are able to withstand extreme loads, including in space. Experts note that a space mission is likely to spread terrestrial organisms throughout the Solar system.

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