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The new findings are a major step towards colonisation of the Red Planet.

Researchers from Wageningen University in the Netherlands carried out the experiment to simulate life on Mars – and showed that two young earthworms were born in the soil.

Biologist Dr Weiger Wamelink found the creature – vital for survival of any ecosystem – in the Hawaiian soil he obtained from NASA.

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NASA’s soil simulant originates from a volcano on Hawaii and Dr Weiger has been growing rocket in it to which worms have been added.

He said: “The worms were from my own garden.”

Dr Weiger was stunned when he discovered a couple of new arrivals he hadn’t completely expected.

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And he added: “Clearly the manure stimulated growth – especially in the Mars soil simulant – and we saw the worms were active.

“However the best surprise came at the end of the experiment when we found two young worms in the Mars soil simulant.”

His findings have been published on the website Nature Today.

Dr Weiger said: “It was a surprise.”

His experiments are crucial in determining if people can keep themselves alive on the Red Planet by growing their own crops.

Meanwhile, space experts have begged for permission to explore the untouched areas of Mars because they believe it holds alien life.