Moss spores survived in outer space for a majority of 2022, and could even reproduce as usual when they were eventually returned to Earth, according to a new study from researchers who say their findings "reveal the potential of terrestrial plants to endure extreme environments" — including the extraterrestrial kind.

"Climate change highlights the importance of understanding life's survival limits for addressing global challenges and supporting future human habitation beyond Earth," reads the introductory text of the study, conducted by scientists at Hokkaido University in Japan. "Understanding the resilience of Earth-born organisms in extreme and unfamiliar conditions, such as the space environment, is a crucial step toward expanding human habitats other than Earth like the Moon or Mar

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