The conditions needed for photosynthesis to occur on Mars could exist beneath the surface of dusty ice at the Red Planet’s mid-latitudes, new research suggests.
Photosynthesis is the process by which living things like plants, algae and cyanobacteria create chemical energy. It requires water and light to proceed and creates the majority of the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere. The new study suggests that a thick enough layer of ice on Mars could filter out harsh radiation from the sun but also allow enough sunlight through for photosynthesis, creating so-called "radiative habitable zones."
