Growth of methanogens on a mars soil simulant
Abstract
Currently, the surface of Mars is probably too cold, too dry, and too oxidizing for life, as we know it, to exist. But the subsurface is another matter. Life forms that might exist below the surface could not obtain their energy from photosynthesis, but rather they would have to utilize chemical energy. Methanogens are one type of microorganism that might be able to survive below the surface of Mars. A potential habitat for existence of methanogens on Mars might be a geothermal source of hydrogen, possibly due to volcanic or hydrothermal activity, or the reaction of basalt and anaerobic water, carbon dioxide, which is abundant in the martian atmosphere, and of course, subsurface liquid water. We report here that certain methanogens can grow on a Mars soil simulant when supplied with carbon dioxide, molecular hydrogen, and varying amounts of water.
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A part of the origin of the Carbon content in the Mars soil simulant may be from organic matter, possibly from the way the soil is harvested on Hawaii.
“Nevertheless a part of the origin of the Carbon content may be from organic matter. It may be a result of the way the soil is ‘harvested’ on Hawaii, leaving traces of organic carbon in the soil. Kral et al. [22] found traces of organic material in the JSC-1 simulant.”
From Can Plants Grow on Mars and the Moon: A Growth Experiment on Mars and Moon Soil Simulants (2014) · cites this paper as [22]
Growth of bacteria on Mars soil simulant is possible, including nitrogen fixing bacteria.
“Experiments with bacteria on Mars soil simulant revealed that growth is possible, including nitrogen fixing bacteria [22].”
From Can Plants Grow on Mars and the Moon: A Growth Experiment on Mars and Moon Soil Simulants (2014) · cites this paper as [22]
Cites
Carr, M. H. (1996) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780195099386.001.0001 · Cited by 551 · see citing works
On the possibility of chemosynthetic ecosystems in subsurface habitats on Mars
Boston, P. J., Ivanov, M. V., & P. McKay, C. (1992) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/0019-1035(92)90045-9 · Cited by 325 · cited 3× · see citing works
“A potential habitat for existence of methanogens on Mars might be a geothermal source of hydrogen, possibly due to volcanic or hydrothermal activity, or the reaction of basalt and anaerobic water (Boston et al., 1992; Stevens and McKinley, 1995; Chapelle et al., 2002), carbon dioxide, which is abundant in the martian…”
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Can Plants Grow on Mars and the Moon: A Growth Experiment on Mars and Moon Soil Simulants
Wamelink, G. W. W., Frissel, J. Y., Krijnen, W. H. J., Verwoert, M. R., & Goedhart, P. W. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0103138 · Cited by 201 · see citing works
Ancient micronauts: interplanetary transport of microbes by cosmic impacts
Nicholson, W. L. (2009) · Trends in Microbiology · doi:10.1016/j.tim.2009.03.004 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Kral, T. A., Birch, W., Lavender, L. E., & Virden, B. T. (2014) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/j.pss.2014.07.008 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Kral, T. A., Bekkum, C. R., & McKay, C. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (US)
- Ames Research Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kral, Timothy A.
- Venue
- Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere
- Published
- 2004-12
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 615-626
- ISSN
- 0169-6149 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-0875
- OpenAlex
- W1994285958
- Cited by
- 79
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 2.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Polar Research and Ecology
- Keywords
- methanogenic archaea, chemolithotrophy, carbon dioxide, molecular hydrogen, water activity, microbial growth, Mars subsurface, hydrothermal activity
- MeSH terms
- Carbon, Carbon Dioxide, Extraterrestrial Environment, Hydrogen, Soil Microbiology, Time Factors, Water, Methanobacteriaceae, Mars
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