00:00exposing the hidden hero in the quest to colonize Mars. Meet Centrichia caninervus, a moss that
00:04laughs in the face of extreme conditions. This little green warrior can survive after being
00:08frozen at minus 80 degrees Celsius for five years or even dunked in liquid nitrogen at minus 196
00:13degrees Celsius for a month. And radiation? Poof! It handles doses that would make most plants and
00:18even humans cower. Scientists at Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography tested this moss under
00:22simulated Martian conditions. That means a carbon dioxide heavy atmosphere temperatures from minus
00:2760 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius, high UV radiation and low pressure. Guess what? After
00:32a week of Martian simulation, our hearty moss fully regenerated in just 30 days. But wait,
00:36there's more! This moss could potentially be a cozy home for tardigrades, those indestructible
00:40micro critters. Imagine a mini ecosystem on Mars starting with this moss. So, the next time someone
00:45asks you what plant might first colonize Mars, you know the answer. Centrichia caninervus, Earth's
00:49toughest moss and maybe Mars' first pioneer. Thanks for watching. Like and subscribe for more
00:53out-of-this-world science facts.
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