Light from the red dwarf star and no oxygen! Cyanobacteria live and proliferate.

A study demonstrates for the first time how cyanobacteria exposed to simulated exoplanet conditions with an atmosphere anoxic and illuminated by a red dwarf star show good growth and photosynthesis due to specific gene regulation.

EXOPLANETS, RESEARCH CONTINUES INTO POSSIBLE LIFE

In the vast universe, the question of life beyond Earth’s boundaries has always been at the forefront of human interest. Recently, a study published in the journal “Frontiers in Plant Science” has brought further advancements in this endless quest.

Coordinated by Professor Nicoletta La Rocca from the Department of Biology at the University of Padua and conducted by a multidisciplinary team of researchers, this study examined cyanobacteria, revealing surprising new findings about their adaptability under simulated exoplanetary conditions.

Cyanobacteria are microscopic organisms that played a crucial role in transforming Earth’s atmosphere billions of years ago through the process of oxygenic photosynthesis. This process gradually oxygenated the atmosphere, paving the way for the evolution of more complex life forms. Now, scientists are exploring whether similar organisms could thrive on exoplanets orbiting red dwarf stars…