Kevin Street wrote: > Deborah Harrell wrote: >> Using extremophiles to improve plant growth under >> harsh (OK, deadly) conditions as on Mars might be a >> first step to making it habitable. (Hey, one can >> dream...) >> >> http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/05aug_nostress.htm?list91324 > > Thanks for the link! Very interesting, indeed. > > One thing I wonder about though that isn't addressed by this > research > is the importance of symbiotic bacteria and little one-celled > critters in soil. Your average handful of dirt is teeming with > microscopic life, so it would be kind of a shock to the system to > put > one of these new, toughened plants directly into martian "dirt" (or > dust, or whatever). The plant wouldn't have any other organisms > around to help it out, which might make it harder to survive. >
And they might get lonely! xponent Mars is A Lonely Desert Maru rob _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
