New Delhi, Aug. 21 -- A new study found that microbes from Earth might survive the harsh surface of the lunar south pole, albeit in a state of suspended animation. The findings reportedly suggested that lunar polar regions may "be less hostile to microbial survival than previously assumed."

"Some of Earth's microbes likely to hitch a ride to space with human explorers could survive in the shaded nooks and crannies of the Moon's South Pole region," NASA scientists said.

The study titled, 'Potential survivable niches for microbial life on the lunar south pole', claimed to show that recent microorganism survivability data and lunar surface remote sensing reveal "likely survivable niches in lunar polar regions."

Previous research suggested...