Sono nascosti nelle rocce, dormono per anni e resistono alla mancanza di acqua disseccandosi al punto di sembrare morti. Ma alla prima pioggia si riprendono, tornano attivi e si riproducono.
Stiamo parlando di alcuni microrganismi rilevati in uno dei luoghi più aridi della Terra, il deserto di Atacama sulle Ande cilene, e considerati dagli esperti come un possibile esempio di forme di vita in grado di resistere anche su Marte.
La scoperta è stata pubblicata sulla rivista dell'Accademia delle Scienze degli Stati Uniti. Stando agli scienziati, forti di questa scoperta, anche sul pianeta rosso potrebbero essere sopravvissute forme di vita elementari simili, rifugiatesi nelle rocce o in profondità nel sottosuolo.
ATS/bin
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