Astrobiology Breakthrough: Moss Spores Survive Year-Long Exposure to Outer Space

Tokyo, November 29, 2025: Scientists announced a major finding after completing an experiment outside the International Space Station (ISS). Spores from the moss species *Physcomitrium patens* were exposed to the harsh vacuum, extreme temperatures, and intense radiation of outer space for nearly a year.

Upon return, researchers successfully reactivated the organisms, finding that over 80% of the spores were not only viable but were still capable of reproducing. This extraordinary resilience suggests that simple plants like moss could be critical for future space missions, acting as robust biological building blocks for creating self-sustaining, Earth-like environments on other planets.