Microbes May Survive on the Moon’s South Pole

Previous missions to the moon explored areas near the equator, where extreme temperatures and high ultraviolet radiation make life impossible. However, the upcoming Artemis IV mission in 2028 aims to land at the south pole, a region with unique conditions that could potentially support certain microbes.

At the poles, sunlight hits the surface at a lower angle, creating shadowed areas with extremely low temperatures (-200°C) and minimal UV radiation. These conditions resemble those needed for freeze-drying microbes. NASA researchers tested five types of bacteria and fungi commonly found in human environments, which have previously survived in space. They discovered that all five could survive for at least 24 hours in the south pole’s shadowed regions.

Among these, Aspergillus niger—a fungus with thick cell walls and DNA repair capabilities—proved the most resilient, potentially surviving over a week. Despite this, it’s unlikely these microbes can reproduce or grow in such harsh conditions. However, even dead or dormant microbes could pose risks to lunar research by contaminating surface samples and affecting measurements.

Thus, future missions must carefully consider contamination risks when exploring the moon’s south pole.