Science
Scientists Stunned By Space Station Bacteria That’s Never Been Seen On Earth
On China’s space station, researchers have found a novel kind of bacterium that may be dangerous to astronauts.
On the International Space Station last year, NASA astronauts discovered 13 altered kinds of bacteria, many of which had developed drug resistance. “Any microorganisms introduced to these areas must adapt to thrive,” the US space agency stated in a press release at the time.
Samples of a novel, enigmatic microorganism have now been gathered from the Tiangong space station in China.
A new type of bacteria that has never been seen on Earth has been discovered by scientists, according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.
As part of one of two studies carried out under the China Space Station Habitation Area Microbiome Programme, the Shenzhou-15 crew took the swabs from a cabin inside the space station in May 2023.
The odd microbe, which was named Niallia tiangongensis after the station where it was discovered, seems to be a type of bacteria that originated on Earth and evolved to survive in space. A group of researchers from the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering and the Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group discovered several peculiar characteristics in the microorganism.
It “demonstrates a unique ability to hydrolyze gelatin suggesting that it can utilize gelatin as a substrate in nutrient-limited environments,” as per the research paper. Additionally, it can build itself a protective shield against environmental stressors “thereby aiding its survival in the space environment.”
Although the bacteria’s potential harm to astronauts on board the space station is currently unknown, researchers note that closely related strains of the germ often don’t cause illness.
However, according to Science Alert, one of its close relatives on Earth has been known to induce sepsis in humans with compromised immune systems. Additionally, there are rising worries about the potential health effects of these microorganisms on astronauts because to their capacity to breakdown gelatin.
This type of space-adapted microorganism could help scientists better understand how bacteria change in microgravity and better prepare astronauts for future space missions.
“Understanding the characteristics of microbes during long-term space missions is essential for safeguarding the health of astronauts and maintaining the functionality of spacecraft,” the authors of the report stated.
According to reports, the new species is related to the spore-forming bacterium Niallia circulans, which is usually found in sewage and dirt. According to the researchers, the bacterium has undergone a number of modifications that could be helpful in researching how organisms change in space.
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