Survival of non-psychrophilic methanogens exposed to martian diurnal and 48-h temperature cycles

摘要

Polygonal ground and other geomorphological features reminiscent of recent freeze/thaw cycling are evident on Mars, despite the widespread belief that the planet is currently inhospitably cold and dry. On Earth, permafrost microbial communities are subjected to wide ranges in temperature and are often active at subfreezing temperatures. The existence of active microbial communities within permafrost on Earth suggests that permafrost on Mars may constitute a habitable environment.