--- title: "NASA: Terrestrial microbes could survive in lunar craters — a threat to the search for life on Mars" description: "NASA scientists have shown that terrestrial microorganisms are capable of surviving conditions in lunar craters, creating a risk of biological contamination and distortion of scientific data about the Moon and Mars." date: 2026-08-21T05:24:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/nasa-microbes-lunar-craters-biological-contamination-threat-mars tags: [nasa, moon, microorganisms, space-research, science-advances, mars] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # NASA: Terrestrial microbes could survive in lunar craters — a threat to the search for life on Mars ![Full Moon against a starry sky: lunar crater conditions where NASA says Earth microbes could survive](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/21/nasa-mikroorganizmy-luna-ugroza-biologicheskogo-zagryazneniya/nasa-mikroorganizmy-luna-ugroza-biologicheskogo-zagryazneniya-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - NASA research (Goddard Center) published in Science Advances showed that terrestrial microbes can survive in shaded niches of lunar craters near the poles. - Humans carry millions of bacteria; sterilization does not eliminate species like Aspergillus niger, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Deinococcus radiodurans, and Fusarium. - Shaded zones in the Nobile Rim, Connecting Ridge, and De Gerlache Rim craters protect microbes from UV and overheating, allowing them to maintain viability for at least one day. - Survival in anabiosis does not imply reproduction due to the lack of water and atmosphere, but creates a risk of a false discovery of life on Mars. Research by scientists at the Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA), published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances, demonstrates that a number of terrestrial microorganisms are capable of withstanding the harsh conditions prevailing in craters near the lunar poles. As reported by RBK-Ukraine citing the scientific paper, this opens up a new and previously underestimated threat — biological contamination that could distort the results of studying the primary chemistry of the Moon and, critically, Mars. ### Humans as carriers: millions of bacteria in every spacesuit The key finding of the study is that humans are natural carriers of millions of microorganisms that inevitably enter the environment during any expedition. According to the researchers, about a million bacteria inhabit every section of human skin the size of a rubber band; these microscopically leak out of spacesuits and living modules. Even strict sterilization procedures cannot completely eliminate all species: in particular, the fungus Aspergillus niger has previously demonstrated the ability to survive on the outer shell of the International Space Station. ### Spectrum of tested organisms and their resilience In addition to Aspergillus niger, scientists tested a whole spectrum of microbes within the simulation, including the bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Deinococcus radiodurans, as well as species of the genus Fusarium. The goal was to determine which of them maintain viability under conditions approximating those on the Moon. The results showed that some of these organisms are indeed capable of entering a state of anabiosis and surviving extreme loads, making them potential "passengers" of future lunar and Martian missions. ### Natural "survival niches" in lunar craters The specifics of the lunar surface create unexpected protection for microbes. Due to the minimal tilt of the lunar axis, the Sun stays very low on the horizon at the poles, creating unique conditions in the terrain. Crater rims, ridges, and even deep boot prints of astronauts form permanently shaded zones that block direct destructive ultraviolet radiation and critical overheating. Modeling based on LRO data confirmed the existence of such "survival niches" in the areas of the Nobile Rim, Connecting Ridge, and De Gerlache Rim craters, where microbes can maintain viability for at least one Earth day. ### Contradictory data Here it is important to distinguish between two different interpretations. On the one hand, headlines in various media outlets (including RBK-Ukraine) formulate the conclusion as "terrestrial life will exist on the Moon," which may be perceived by the public as the discovery of an active biosphere. On the other hand, the authors of the study themselves emphasize that the survival of microorganisms in a state of anabiosis does not mean their reproduction, as there is no liquid water and atmosphere on the Moon. Thus, the issue is not about the development of life, but about the preservation of the viability of introduced organisms — and it is precisely this difference between "survive" and "live and reproduce" that is the central contradiction in the public presentation of the material. ### Loss of scientific context and risk for Martian missions The main practical danger of biological contamination is the loss of scientific context. Introduced terrestrial bacteria may hinder the identification of authentic organic compounds or the ancient chemical history of the lunar satellite. A similar, and even more serious, risk exists for Mars: the discovery of terrestrial microbes there could be mistakenly perceived as a sensational discovery of extraterrestrial life, which would distort the entire interpretation of data from Martian missions. As a constructive step, scientists suggest using the Moon's South Pole as a natural laboratory to establish the real limits of terrestrial biology's endurance in open space before launching missions to other planets. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Terrestrial life will exist on the Moon: NASA discovered an unexpected threat](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zemne-zhittya-isnuvatime-misyatsi-nasa-viyavila-1787236162.html) - Единственный предоставленный источник; пересказывает исследование NASA/Science Advances. Заголовочная формулировка о 'жизни на Луне' смягчена научной оговоркой об анабиозе без размножения. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Does the study mean that life has appeared on the Moon? **A:** No. Scientists emphasize that the survival of microbes in a state of anabiosis does not mean their reproduction, as there is no liquid water and atmosphere on the Moon. The issue is about preserving the viability of introduced organisms. ### Q: Which microorganisms could survive on the Moon? **A:** The simulation tested the fungus Aspergillus niger, bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Deinococcus radiodurans, and Fusarium species. ### Q: Where exactly on the Moon can microbes survive the conditions? **A:** In permanently shaded niches near the poles — in the areas of the Nobile Rim, Connecting Ridge, and De Gerlache Rim craters, where, according to LRO data, they maintain viability for at least one Earth day. ### Q: Why is this dangerous for Martian missions? **A:** Introduced terrestrial microbes could be mistakenly taken for extraterrestrial life on Mars, as well as distort the identification of authentic organic compounds and the chemical history of the planets.