<p>I asked a question on the same topic few months ago : <a href="https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/1068/could-any-known-living-organisms-on-earth-survive-on-mars">Could any known, living organisms on Earth survive on Mars?</a> </p>

<p>The answer from <code>dotancohen</code> pointed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tardigrade</a> that can live in extreme conditions.
The other life forms I mentioned may also be resistant to extreme conditions.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-13T09:47:29.190Z
2014-05-13T09:47:29.190Z
2017-04-13T12:59:06.910Z
Thibault
<p>And define "life". It's conceivable that lifeforms exist that are for example silicon based, don't need oxygen, and can survive in hard vacuum, even directly use gamma and X-rays the way plants on earth photosynthesise visible light.<br/>
Such could well survive there, even thrive. But would we even recognise them as alive?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-14T10:46:48.683Z
Interesting theory, I haven't thought of that before!  It appears that the definition of life isn't fully defined e.g. refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life#Biology
Jonathan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-14T10:48:45.043Z
@Jonathan to quote Mr Spock: "it's life Jim, but not as we know it" ;)
jwenting
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-14T08:24:50.650Z
2014-05-14T08:24:50.650Z
jwenting
<p>Some of our gas giant's icey moons are thought to have liquid water interiors. Tidal flexing is thought to be a source of heat.</p>

<p>Earth's smoker ecosystem demonstrate life can thrive sans sunlight. This <a href="http://science1.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/ast13apr_1/" rel="nofollow">Nasa article</a> talks about Smoker colonies and the possibility of life beneath the surface of icey moons like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_%28moon%29#Potential_for_extraterrestrial_life" rel="nofollow">Europa</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-13T20:27:39.677Z
2014-05-13T20:27:39.677Z
HopDavid
<p>While such locations might be <em>habitable</em> to some (of Earth's) lifeforms, for life to actually exist there it must also be an <em>originable</em> location for life (or somehow had life transported to it). The origin of life on Earth is a big unknown. For sure, Earth was a very different place when it happened and it could've happened underground.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-30T20:23:58.187Z
Of course it's known.    Genesis 1.
Keith
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-14T04:58:43.043Z
2014-05-14T04:58:43.043Z
LocalFluff
<p>That's one of the big questions. ESA scientists, at least, think it's worth looking for underground life. See <a href="http://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bulletin126/bul126c_vago.pdf">ExoMars mission</a>.</p>

<p>More likely than earth worms are microbes, since some microbes on Earth live under similar conditions as presumed for underground Mars.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-26T03:11:13.940Z
2014-04-26T03:11:13.940Z
Gerald
<p>I realize radiation and extreme temperatures would probably destroy life on the surface of most planets and moons, but could life exist beneath the surface (e.g. like earth worms on earth)?</p>

<the-moon><mars><life><surface>
Could there be life beneath the surface of Mars or moons?
Jonathan
# Could there be life beneath the surface of Mars or moons?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-25)

I realize radiation and extreme temperatures would probably destroy life on the surface of most planets and moons, but could life exist beneath the surface (e.g. like earth worms on earth)?

**Tags:** the-moon, mars, life, surface


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## 5 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2014-04-26. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

That's one of the big questions. ESA scientists, at least, think it's worth looking for underground life. See [ExoMars mission](http://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bulletin126/bul126c_vago.pdf).

More likely than earth worms are microbes, since some microbes on Earth live under similar conditions as presumed for underground Mars.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2014-05-13. Score: 2

I asked a question on the same topic few months ago : [Could any known, living organisms on Earth survive on Mars?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/1068/could-any-known-living-organisms-on-earth-survive-on-mars)

The answer from `dotancohen` pointed the [Tardigrade](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardigrade) that can live in extreme conditions.
The other life forms I mentioned may also be resistant to extreme conditions.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2014-05-14. Score: 2

And define "life". It's conceivable that lifeforms exist that are for example silicon based, don't need oxygen, and can survive in hard vacuum, even directly use gamma and X-rays the way plants on earth photosynthesise visible light.  
Such could well survive there, even thrive. But would we even recognise them as alive?

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Interesting theory, I haven't thought of that before!  It appears that the definition of life isn't fully defined e.g. refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life#Biology  
> **username_2**: @username_0 to quote Mr Spock: "it's life Jim, but not as we know it" ;)  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2014-05-13. Score: 2

Some of our gas giant's icey moons are thought to have liquid water interiors. Tidal flexing is thought to be a source of heat.

Earth's smoker ecosystem demonstrate life can thrive sans sunlight. This [Nasa article](http://science1.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2001/ast13apr_1/) talks about Smoker colonies and the possibility of life beneath the surface of icey moons like [Europa](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_%28moon%29#Potential_for_extraterrestrial_life).


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### Answer by username_4 on 2014-05-14. Score: 1

While such locations might be *habitable* to some (of Earth's) lifeforms, for life to actually exist there it must also be an *originable* location for life (or somehow had life transported to it). The origin of life on Earth is a big unknown. For sure, Earth was a very different place when it happened and it could've happened underground.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Of course it's known.    Genesis 1.  

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