A study conducted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences has revealed that scientists have identified a type of desert algae in the Xinjiang region of western China with exceptional resistance abilities, which could serve as a foundation for potentially sustainable inhabited areas on Mars.
According to the academy in a research paper published in the journal *The Innovation* last week, when exposed to conditions simulating the Martian environment, the algae, named *Centracanthus caninervis*, was found to withstand extreme drought, very low temperatures, and radiation.
Researchers indicated in the study published on July 1 that this algae could serve as a "foundation for creating and maintaining an ecosystem by contributing to oxygen production, carbon sequestration, and soil fertility."
The research stated, "The algae can help drive the atmospheric, geological, and environmental processes required for other plants and animals while facilitating the creation of new habitable environments that lead to long-term human settlement."
In the study, scientists found that even after losing more than 98% of its cellular water content, the algae was able to recover its photosynthesis activities and physiological capabilities within seconds after being rehydrated.
This algae was found in Xinjiang, Tibet, the California desert, the Middle East, and polar regions.
