Scientists may have found a way for humans to breathe on Mars in the future.<\/p>\n
Space travel is tricky for numerous reasons but the lack of oxygen in space is one of the biggest obstacles.<\/p>\n
Bacteria may be the answer to all our space breathing problems.<\/p>\n
According toMashable, cyanobacteria could be used by scientists to figure out a way in which humans could easily access oxygen in space.<\/p>\n
Cyanobacteria take carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen.<\/p>\n
The bacteria is found in very hostile environments on Earth so its hoped cyanobacteria would be able to survive on Mars.<\/p>\n
Some experts have suggested sending the bacteria to Mars and seeing if it could create oxygen for humans who end up there in the future.<\/p>\n
Experiments have already proven that cyanobacteria can grow in a Martian-like environment.<\/p>\n
Astrobiologist Cyprien Verseuxpreviously worked on one of these experiments.<\/p>\n
They explained: Here we show that cyanobacteria can use gases available in the Martian atmosphere, at a low total pressure, as their source of carbon and nitrogen.<\/p>\n
Under these conditions, cyanobacteria kept their ability to grow in water containing only Mars-like dust and could still be used for feeding other microbes.<\/p>\n
This could help make long-term missions to Mars sustainable.<\/p>\n
NASA has its sights set on sending humans to Mars and Elon Musk has big plans for a human colony on the Red Planet.<\/p>\n
The SpaceX CEO has previously expressed desires to ferry to take one million humans to Mars by 2050.<\/p>\n
By that time, scientists may have worked out a way for bacteria to provide oxygen on this long-haul mission.<\/p>\n
Humans would still need to live in very protective shelters on Mars as the planet is a harsh environment with dramatic temperature changes and constant radiation exposure.<\/p>\n
This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced here with permission. <\/p>\n
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