A. Penicillium chrysogenum
B. Aspergillus niger
C. Candida albicans
D. Saccharomyces cerevisiae
A NASA-led study published in August 2026 found that some Earth microorganisms could survive for weeks or months under certain simulated lunar conditions. Among the organisms tested, Aspergillus niger, a common black mold, showed the greatest resilience.
The researchers studied conditions similar to environments near the lunar South Pole, including extreme temperatures and radiation. The study examined survival rather than growth or reproduction.