Journal of Astrobiology & Outreach

Abstrait

Microbial Biogeochemistry and Extreme Environments

Pekka Janhunen

With the continued development of methods for microbial ecological analysis and increased interest in “exobiology” or “astrobiology”, many different extreme environments have been studied, often with the justification that results from at least some of these systems may advance the search for extraterrestrial life. Concerns about “forward contamination” of Mars and other objects in the solar system have also prompted surveys of extremophiles in engineered extreme environments, spacecraft assembly clean rooms. Perhaps not surprisingly, even engineered, surfaces harbour significant numbers of bacteria that can tolerate or thrive a wide range of extreme conditions, including UV radiation, desiccation, nutrient deprivation and extremes of temperature. This raises the possibility that landing craft or other man-made impactors can contaminate extraterrestrial systems.