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The superheroes of Antarctica are mosses, as they are continuously growing in various areas of the continent, forming thick green clumps and large clumps on uncovered land, which has been revealed due to the melting of ice and snow.

These plants are extremely resilient and have a slow growth rate due to the harsh conditions of the Antarctic climate. They are able to withstand extreme cold, long periods without water, strong ultraviolet light, and extended periods of darkness during the winter. During this dormant phase, which can last up to 9 to 10 months under winter snow, the plants use their own antifreeze to prevent their cells from freezing. When the brief growing season arrives, the mosses thaw and absorb water like sponges, coming back to life. They are so resilient that they can even survive being covered by glaciers for hundreds of years. One remarkable species was discovered to be 1,530 years old and was able to revive itself after thawing out from being trapped in ice.

Scarcity of nutrients forces the mosses to search for nourishment, including absorbing old penguin feces carried by the wind. While their growth rate is only 2mm or 3mm per year, on certain areas of the Antarctic peninsula (which points towards South America), their growth has surprisingly increased in the last 50 years due to the rapidly warming temperatures.

Source: theguardian.com