Tardigrades Show Potential for Martian Resource Protection

Penn State researchers find water bears may help shield against Earth contaminants on Mars

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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An international research team led by Penn State Altoona Professor Corien Bakermans has found that tardigrades, also known as water bears, show reduced activity when exposed to simulated Martian regolith. However, washing the regolith with water appears to mitigate the impact, suggesting tardigrades could help protect against Earth contaminants on Mars.

Why it matters

As humans plan future space missions, understanding how extraterrestrial environments will impact both people and the environment is crucial. Tardigrades may provide insight into whether Martian regolith contains inherent defenses against Earth contaminants, which is a key goal of planetary protection.

The details

The research team found that tardigrade activity, a key indicator of their health, was significantly reduced when placed in simulated Martian regolith. However, washing the regolith with water prior to introducing the tardigrades appeared to remove a harmful element and mostly mitigate the impact on their activity. The findings suggest tardigrades could help protect against contamination from Earth, but may also mean the regolith would be unsuitable for growing food to support a human settlement.

  • The research was recently published in the International Journal of Astrobiology in February 2026.

The players

Corien Bakermans

A professor of microbiology at Penn State Altoona who coordinates the university's biology program and co-led the international research team.

Penn State Altoona

The university where Bakermans is a professor and where the research was conducted.

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What they’re saying

“When considering sending people to non-Earth environments, we need to understand two things: how the environment will impact the people and how the people will impact the environment.”

— Corien Bakermans, Professor of Microbiology (Mirage News)

“We know a lot about bacteria and fungi in simulated regolith, but very little about how they impact animals - even microscopic animals, like tardigrades.”

— Corien Bakermans, Professor of Microbiology (Mirage News)

What’s next

The researchers plan to further investigate the specific mechanisms by which Martian regolith impacts tardigrades, as well as explore whether the regolith could be adapted to support plant growth for future human settlements.

The takeaway

Tardigrades, also known as water bears, may hold the key to protecting against Earth contaminants on Mars, but their sensitivity to the Martian environment also suggests the regolith may be unsuitable for growing food to support human exploration and settlement.