La resistenza di alcuni batteri, licheni e funghi è stata messa a dura prova, con un'esposizione della durata di ben un anno e mezzo alle particolari condizioni dello spazio.
Gli organismi in questione - che sulla Terra vivono in ambienti estremi come l'Antartide e i deserti - erano stati collocati in un apposito contenitore all'esterno della Stazione spaziale internazionale (ISS). Il recupero è stato effettuato da due cosmonauti durante una passeggiata spaziale.
I ricercatori analizzeranno ora gli effetti prodotti da continue escursioni termiche e dall'assorbimento - in assenza della protezione dell'atmosfera - di quelle radiazioni solari che maggiormente danneggiano il DNA.
Red.MM/ARi
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