In the event of accidental transmission of microbes to other planets, we must consider whether the local conditions would allow their proliferation. Whereas temperatures on Mars are usually hostile to life, liquid water is available from deliquescing salts.
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15 May 2020
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1125-0
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Acknowledgements
Helpful discussion was provided by G. M. A. de Abreu (São Paulo State University, Brazil), R. Amils and J. M. Martínez (Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain), H. L. Banciu (Babeş-Bolyai University, Romania), K. C. Benison (West Virginia University, WV, USA), J. Burkhardt (University of Bonn, Germany), H. G. Changela (Qianxuesen Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Space Technology, China), C. Conley (NASA Headquarters, DC, USA), L. M. Corrochano (University of Seville, Spain), J. Dijksterhuis (Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, the Netherlands), I. G. Duggin (University of Technology Sydney, Australia), R. L. Mancinelli (NASA Ames Research Center, CA, USA), T. J. McGenity (University of Essex, UK), E. G. Rivera-Valentín (Lunar and Planetary Institute, TX, USA), and K. N. Timmis (Technical University Braunschweig, Germany).
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Hallsworth, J.E. Salt deliquescence can support extraterrestrial life. Nat Astron 4, 739–740 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1081-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-020-1081-8
