Mojave Lichen & Exoplanet Life: Radiation Resistance
- New research indicates that life, as we understand it, might be able to flourish on Earth-like exoplanets, even those orbiting stars with significantly higher solar radiation than our...
- The lichen, Clavascidium lacinulatum, endured three months of solar radiation exposure at levels previously considered lethal.
- Henry Sun, associate research professor of microbiology at DRI and a lead author, noted his curiosity about the dark color of desert lichens."I was just walking in the...
The Mojave Desert lichen holds a crucial clue in the search for extraterrestrial life. Scientists discovered that this resilient lichen, acting as a natural “sunscreen”, can withstand intense radiation, suggesting that life, potentially, could exist on exoplanets with extreme solar environments.This groundbreaking study published in Astrobiology, reveals that even under harsh conditions, the primary keyword, “radiation resistance” empowers life to thrive. The secondary keyword, “exoplanet life,” becomes a tangible possibility. The implications are vast,expanding the horizons of astrobiology and suggesting that many planets may be habitable beyond our current understanding. News directory 3 brings you this pivotal study which underscores the importance of exploring life’s incredible adaptability.Discover what’s next as researchers continue to uncover the mysteries of the universe.
Life’s Role on Exoplanets More Likely Than Previously Thought, Lichen Study suggests
Updated June 26, 2025
New research indicates that life, as we understand it, might be able to flourish on Earth-like exoplanets, even those orbiting stars with significantly higher solar radiation than our sun. The study, published in Astrobiology, examined the resilience of lichen found in the Mojave Desert.
The lichen, Clavascidium lacinulatum, endured three months of solar radiation exposure at levels previously considered lethal. Although injured, the lichen recovered and replicated, suggesting that photosynthetic life could exist on planets exposed to intense solar radiation.
Henry Sun, associate research professor of microbiology at DRI and a lead author, noted his curiosity about the dark color of desert lichens.”I was just walking in the desert and I noticed that the lichens growing there aren’t green, they’re black,” Sun said. “They are photosynthetic and contain chlorophyll, so you would think they’d be green. So I wondered, ‘What is the pigment they’re wearing?’ And that pigment turned out to be the world’s best sunscreen.”
Earth’s atmosphere filters out the most damaging UVC rays, but many exoplanets orbit stars that emit high levels of this radiation, especially during solar flares.Scientists have questioned whether these exoplanets could support life.
Sun and Tejinder Singh,then a graduate student,collected lichen from the Mojave desert and exposed it to UVC radiation in a lab for three months. Half of the algal cells remained viable and replicated upon rehydration.
Sun collaborated with chemists from the University of Nevada, Reno, to understand the chemical basis of this resilience. They found that lichen acids function similarly to UV-resistant additives in plastics.
Cross-sections of the lichen revealed a darker top layer, akin to a human suntan. When algal cells were separated from the fungi and protective layer, they died within a minute of UVC radiation exposure.
The discovery of this protective layer was surprising, as Earth’s atmosphere already filters out UVC rays. The lichen’s UVA and UVB protection provides an additional benefit.
Researchers also tested the lichen in an oxygen-free surroundings with UVC light, finding that radiation damage was further reduced.
The study suggests that planets beyond Earth may be habitable, potentially teeming with microorganisms adapted to UVC stress.
“This work reveals the unusual tenacity of life even under the harshest conditions, a reminder that life, once sparked, strives to endure,” said Tejinder Singh, now at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.”In exploring these limits, we inch closer to understanding where life might be possible beyond this planet we call home.”
What’s next
Future research may focus on identifying other organisms with similar protective mechanisms and exploring the potential for life on other exoplanets.