Space
Genetic analysis shows that microbes growing inside the International Space Station have adaptations for radiation and low gravity, and may pose a threat to astronauts
20 September 2024
The International Space Station has its own distinctive microbiome
Dima Zel/Shutterstock
Bacteria on board the International Space Station (ISS) have evolved new traits in order to survive in low Earth orbit, and some show signs of increased virulence.
Microbes from Earth have made their way to the station via human hosts and the regular delivery of equipment and supplies.
NASA has been monitoring the ISS’s microbiome for a decade to understand how microbes survive in space conditions and what threat they might pose to astronauts’…
