Xinjiang scientific expedition reports glacier melting and space-resilient moss

The Third Chinese Scientific Expedition in Xinjiang has released findings regarding regional environmental changes and biological resilience. Scientists identified 24,202 glaciers in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, covering 23,629 square kilometers. Data indicates that between 1990 and 2020, the region lost 2,167 square kilometers of glacier surface due to accelerated melting driven by global warming.

Additionally, researchers highlighted the discovery of Syntrichia caninervis, a desert moss described as ‘the most resilient desert plant discovered to date.’ During an experiment involving the Qingzhou cargo spacecraft, the moss demonstrated the ability to survive extreme dehydration, intense radiation, and microgravity. The plant successfully returned to life in low Earth orbit after receiving minimal water, suggesting its potential utility for life sciences research in deep space and extraterrestrial colonization.