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Sunday, November 20, 2005 Lichen in Space Lichen is actually two types of creature, rolled into one: a fungi and an algae Credit: L Sancho The ESA is reporting that lichen can survive in space. The Russian launched Rhizocarpon geographicum and Xanthoria elegans, two species of lichen, on the 31st of May this year. The capsule's lid was opened for 15 days in space. The lichen were exposed to temperature shifts from -20 to 20 degrees C and strong UV. “To our big surprise, everything went fine after the flight,” says Rene Demets, ESA’s project scientist for the Foton project. “The lichens were in exactly the same shape as before flight.” The lichen’s DNA was not damaged and the majority of the cells were able to start growing when brought back to Earth. This offers evidence for panspermia (the theory that life could travel through space to populate a distant planet) and also that lichen can survive on Mars. There are still some problems to be solved, but some of the larger ones have been shown to be solved naturally. (More info: New Scientist) @ 15:05 EST