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Earth extremophile can grow in near-Mars-like conditions

Published

August 11, 2026

Earth extremophile can grow in near-Mars-like conditions

We have found tantalising hints that not only was there once life on Mars, but that it might still exist on the Red Planet. Now, a study here on Earth has made that idea more plausible by showing that salt-loving, or halophilic, microbes can grow in conditions close to those that might be found in little pockets of highly salty water just below the surface of Mars.

Source: newscientist.com , photo by Daniele Colucci on Unsplash