Summary:
- A NASA-led study published in *Applied and Environmental Microbiology* demonstrates that certain Earth-based microorganisms, specifically *Aspergillus niger* and *Salinisphaera shabanensis*, exhibit the capacity to survive simulated lunar surface conditions.
- The research highlights the resilience of these microbes when exposed to lunar regolith simulants and simulated solar radiation, raising significant implications for planetary protection protocols and the risk of biological contamination during future crewed and robotic lunar missions.