Antarctica is one of the most extreme places on Earth. It was to this environment that Assoc. Prof. Michal Goga, PhD.—from the Institute of Biological and Ecological Sciences at the UPJŠ Faculty of Science and the Technology and Innovation Park UPJŠ—ventured to study the fascinating ability of mosses and lichens to survive in conditions hostile to most organisms.
During the scientific expedition, the team collected approximately 400 samples that are now the subject of further research. Scientists are interested not only in how these organisms adapt to extreme cold, dryness, and UV radiation, but also in the substances they produce—compounds that could potentially be used in medicine, biotechnology, or the search for new bioactive agents.
In an interview with the online magazine EASTMAG, Michal Goga discusses the scientific expedition, working in harsh conditions, surviving at the “end of the world,” and the secrets hidden within mosses and lichens—organisms that may appear unassuming at first glance.
Read the full interview here
