Conan the Bacterium withstands extreme radiation and Martian conditions

In recent years, researchers have made a revolutionary discovery in microbiology regarding a particular species of bacteria known as Deinococcus radiodurans. This remarkably resilient microbe was discovered in irradiated canned meat in 1956 when attempts to sterilize it failed. Since then, it has gained the nickname 'Conan the Bacterium' due to its extraordinary ability to withstand extreme environmental stresses. Unlike other organisms, this bacterium can endure radiation doses that are thousands of times lethal to humans, showcasing its unique survival capabilities and redefining our understanding of life forms that can thrive under harsh circumstances. In 1986, the Chernobyl disaster released lethal radiation, creating an exclusion zone that would remain inhospitable to human life for decades. Interestingly, amid this desolation, scientists found fungi that thrived by feeding on the radioactive decay, implying life’s incredible tenacity in unfavorable conditions. Similarly, after the Fukushima disaster in 2011, life managed to persist even in radioactive soil. Among these tenacious survivors is Deinococcus radiodurans, which stands out due to its ability not just to survive but to thrive in environments that would obliterate almost all known life forms. Deinococcus radiodurans sets new benchmarks for extremophiles, effectively enduring radiation doses of over 15,000 Gy with a survival rate of about 37%. This bacterium has been studied under diverse conditions, including experiments conducted aboard the International Space Station in 2020, where it survived the vacuum and radiation of outer space for three years. Research indicates that this microbe has multiple copies of its genome, allowing it to repair its DNA quickly, which is crucial for its survival given the high levels of damage it can sustain. A groundbreaking study published in 2022 subjected Conan to Martian-like conditions characterized by severely cold temperatures averaging -63 degrees Celsius, extreme desiccation, and constant cosmic radiation bombardment. Astonishingly, the bacterium demonstrated the potential to survive for 280 million years buried beneath the Martian surface, shielded from harmful ultraviolet rays. These findings have profound implications for astrobiology, challenging existing notions about the resilience of life beyond Earth and hinting at the possibility of similar forms of life existing in extreme environments across the universe.