Posted on: April 30, 2012
Branch / Organization: Space Science & Astrobiology Division
Kilimanjaro
The summit soils of Kilimanjaro are among the most extreme on Earth in terms of their near-sterile nature, extreme freeze-thaw cycles, high ultraviolet radiation flux, low atmospheric pressure, and low nutrient content and water activity. Despite these conditions, microbes are capable of surviving here. Ames scientists are studying the microbiology of these Kilimanjaro soils as an analog for Mars to understand the tolerance limits of life.