NASA-led study shows some Earth microbes could survive on the moon | The Jerusalem Post

Jpost · Aug 21, 2026 · 787 words · By REUTERS

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What to know about NASA-led study shows some Earth microbes could survive on the moon

The moon is, to put it mildly, an inhospitable place for people and other living organisms from Earth, with its lack of breathable air, extreme temperatures, and exposure to relentless space radiation and energetic particles.

Claims checked 13

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center75%

Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

That is why astronauts wear spacesuits and spacecraft are built with shielding.

Common ground

But how about the microbes that inevitably will hitchhike with astronauts during space exploration?

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: NASA-led study shows some Earth microbes could survive on the moon?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that water - present as ice in some places on the moon?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.jpost.com/science/article-906222

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 4

schedule Pending 3

verified Verified By Reference 3

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 1

schedule

Claim 1: “water - present as ice in some places on the moon”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 2: “These microbes were tested in modeling simulations of three regions near the lunar South Pole - Nobile Rim, Connecting Ridge, and de Gerlache Rim”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence for claim 1 consists of HP printer manuals and a general Wikipedia entry on the lunar south pole. None of the sources mention the specific modeling simulations of Nobile Rim, Connecting Ridge, or de Gerlache Rim.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The lunar south pole is the southernmost point on the Moon. It is of interest to scientists because of the occurrence of water ice in permanently shadowed areas around it. The lunar south pole region …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_south_pole

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web search NEUTRAL — Utilizando la vista previa online, puedes ver rápidamente el índice de contenidos y pasar a la página donde encontrarás la solución a tu problema con HP OFFICEJET-PRO-6970.
https://www.manualsbase.com/es/manual/hp-officejet-pro-6970/…

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web search NEUTRAL — This video reviews the step-by-step method to unbox and quickly set up your HP OfficeJet Pro 6970 all-in-one printer. You learn how to setup wireless scan an...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-WLtKE-mfoNew

+ 1 more evidence source

help

Claim 3: “The models revealed maps of "survivable niches" as large as crater floors miles wide.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this claim.

info

Claim 4: “The researchers also studied several species of Fusarium, a common soil-borne fungus.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the provided evidence confirms that Fusarium is a common soil-borne fungus, none of the provided evidence confirms that this specific NASA study examined Fusarium. The evidence provided is general biological information, not study-specific.

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web search NEUTRAL — Trichoderma, species (soil borne cosmopolitan fungi) are extensively exploited worldwide as biocontrol agentes. They have a unique ability to control the plant pathogens through the mechanism of mycop…
https://www.academia.edu/111869537/Antagonistic_Study_of_Som…

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web search NEUTRAL — This study aimed to examine the fungal communities. found in soil in areas with high temperatures and multiple cropping schemes. The main objectives of.The soil-borne fungal mycobiome are the leading …
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381813637_Unravelin…

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web search NEUTRAL — Members of Fusarium species are ubiquitous soil-borne pathogens of a wide range of horticultural and food crops which cause destructive vascular wilts, rots, and damping-off diseases (Bodah, 2017). In…
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6864208/

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Claim 5: “Experiments have shown it [Aspergillus niger] can even survive outside the station while in orbit.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that Aspergillus niger can survive outside the station in orbit, with one source noting that its survival on the space station's exterior surprised scientists.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The survival of some microorganisms exposed to outer space has been studied using both simulated facilities and low Earth orbit exposures. Bacteria were some of the first organisms investigated, when …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_microorganisms_tested_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Astronautical hygiene evaluates, and mitigates, hazards and health risks to those working in low-gravity environments. The discipline of astronautical hygiene includes such topics as the use and maint…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronautical_hygiene

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Biomining refers to processes that use organisms to extract metals from ores and other solid materials. The largest application currently being used is the treatment of mining waste containing iron, c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomining

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 6: “Aspergillus niger, a common fungal species prevalent in warmer climates and sometimes called "black mold," was the most resilient.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that Aspergillus niger was the most resilient/well-suited microbe in the study, with one source specifically quoting lead author Saxena from the journal Science Advances.

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web search NEUTRAL — The researchers studied microbes that might be able to live in the lunar conditions. This includes organisms commonly found in spaceflight environments and those common on human skin.
https://earthsky.org/space/microbes-on-the-moon-habitability…

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web search NEUTRAL — “Aspergillus was the most well-suited to survive in regions of the lunar poles. Fusarium was similarly resilient, though not to the extent of Aspergillus,” said Saxena, lead author of the study publis…
https://www.primetimer.com/features/nasa-researchers-find-so…

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web search NEUTRAL — The study, titled Potential survivable niches for microbial life on the lunar south pole, highlights that certain protected lunar zones provide enough of a shield to allow these organisms to remain st…
https://www.bioscience.com.pk/en/subject/biology/nasa-discov…

schedule

Claim 7: “The United States and China are pursuing plans to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972 and establish longer-term moon bases.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 8: “lunar daytime temperatures can reach roughly 260 degrees Fahrenheit (127 degrees Celsius)”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence for claim 8 consists of Wikipedia entries on English orthography, Pawn Stars, and Venus. None of the sources provide information on lunar temperatures.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — English orthography comprises the set of rules used when writing the English language, allowing readers and writers to associate written graphemes with the sounds of spoken English, as well as other f…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_orthography

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pawn Stars is an American reality television series that premiered on History on July 19, 2009. The series is filmed in Las Vegas, Nevada, where it chronicles the activities at the World Famous Gold &…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Pawn_Stars_episodes

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Venus is the second planet from the Sun. Similar in size and mass to Earth, Venus has no liquid water, and its atmosphere is far thicker and denser than that of any other rocky body in the Solar Syste…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus

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Claim 9: “Astronauts have found it [Aspergillus niger] inside the International Space Station.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results explicitly state that Aspergillus niger has been repeatedly detected in spacecraft environments, including the International Space Station.

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verified

Claim 10: “Three bacteria species were studied: Deinococcus radiodurans, a soil-borne microbe known for withstanding cold and radiation; Staphylococcus aureus, often found on the skin and inside nasal passages; and Bacillus subtilis, found in soil, vegetation and the human gastrointestinal tract.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence for claim 7 consists of Google Chrome installation guides and general Wikipedia entries on Gram-positive bacteria and microbial art. None of the sources confirm the specific bacteria used in the study.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gram-positive bacteria are bacteria that give a positive result in the Gram stain test, which is traditionally used to quickly classify bacteria into two broad categories according to their type of ce…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram-positive_bacteria

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Microbial art, agar art, or germ art is artwork created by culturing microorganisms in certain patterns. The microbes used can be bacteria, yeast, fungi, or less commonly, protists. The microbes can b…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial_art

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 11: “NASA's Artemis program aims to land astronauts around the South Pole region.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 12: “The simulations indicated that some of the microbes could survive for periods of weeks to months in certain areas - such as inside craters that remain permanently shadowed - and during particular seasons - autumn and winter”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web search results confirm that simulations indicated microbes could survive for weeks to months in permanently shadowed craters during lunar autumn and winter.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The simulations indicated that some of the microbes could survive for periods of weeks to months in certain areas such as inside craters that remain permanently shadowed and during particular seasons …
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/1079251/nasa-led-study-show…

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web search NEUTRAL — The calculations incorporated observational data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter as well as radiation exposure levels. According to the modeling results, certain microorganisms may remain viable…
https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/00f555a3_nasa_study_finds/

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web search NEUTRAL — Saxena told Reuters that some organisms could survive for weeks to months in especially protected settings, including permanently shadowed craters and favourable autumn or winter conditions. That is n…
https://spacedaily.com/t-moon-polar-shadows-earth-microbes-s…

info

Claim 13: “New research led by NASA scientists looking at five forms of fungi and bacteria indicates that some of them indeed could survive for a time under certain conditions on the lunar surface”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for claim 0 consists of search results regarding low blood pressure, which are completely irrelevant to NASA research on fungi and bacteria on the lunar surface.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Apr 10, 2025 · Lifestyle changes, such as drinking plenty of fluids, wearing compression stockings, and eating more salt, may help raise blood pressure. In some situations, natural solutions can raise…
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319506

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web search NEUTRAL — May 2, 2026 · If low blood pressure is leaving you dizzy or fatigued, these practical strategies can help raise it safely using diet, hydration, and lifestyle adjustments.
https://scienceinsights.org/how-to-get-blood-pressure-up-qui…

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web search NEUTRAL — Mar 24, 2025 · Things You Should Know Drink lots of water and eat something salty to raise your blood pressure when it gets low. Put on compression socks and elevate your legs to circulate your blood …
https://www.wikihow.com/Raise-Blood-Pressure

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.