Tag: Microbiology
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HOBI-WAN: ESA tests bacteria powder for space nutrition
ESA pioneers a new kind of space nutrition The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced a bold step in the quest to sustain astronauts on extended lunar and Martian missions. In a project cheekily dubbed HOBI-WAN (Hydrogen Oxidizing Bacteria In Weightlessness As a source of Nutrition), scientists are testing a powdered form of microscopic life…
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Spaceflight Resilience: Health-Benefiting Microbes Survive Launch to Reentry
Introduction: Microbes with a Mission Beyond Earth Microbes essential for human health can withstand the punishing forces of space travel, a finding that could redefine how we support astronauts on future long-duration missions. In a novel study, researchers tested spores of Bacillus subtilis, a bacterium linked to immune support, gut health, and circulation, to see…
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Sped-Up Bacterial Evolution in the Gut: UCLA Study on DGRs and Microbiome Colonization
Overview: A Faster Path to Gut Colonization Every person hosts a vast, vibrant community of microbes in the gastrointestinal tract. This gut microbiome plays a key role in digestion, immune function, and even brain health. A UCLA-led team has unveiled a mechanism that could explain part of how these microbes establish themselves more rapidly in…
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Rare Spacecraft Bacterium Plays Dead, Evading Detection
Uncovering a Hidden Survivor in Space Mission Clean Rooms A team of microbiologists at the University of Houston has identified a rare microorganism that could be quietly evading detection in spacecraft assembly clean rooms by entering a dormant, near-motionless state. The organism, Tersicoccus phoenicis (T. phoenicis), was discovered in environments designed to be as free…
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Rare Spacecraft Bacterium Evades Detection by Playing Dead
Rare Microorganism Found in NASA Clean Rooms Gets a Second Life A rare microorganism, Tersicoccus phoenicis (T. phoenicis), is prompting a rethink of how researchers monitor cleanliness in facilities that prepare spacecraft for launch. Discovered in NASA spacecraft assembly clean rooms, this unusual bacterium may survive by entering a dormant, nearly unseen state, effectively “playing…
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Don’t Share These Bathroom Items: Towels, Razors, Toothbrushes
Why sharing bathroom items matters When you’re away from home and you forget a towel, razor, or toothbrush, the urge to borrow can be strong. But experts warn that sharing these personal items isn’t just inconvenient—it can raise your risk of infections. Microbes can linger on fabric, plastic, and metal, and the warm, moist conditions…
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Gut Bacteria Survive Space Travel: Implications for Astronaut Health
Introduction: The surprising resilience of our gut allies Scientists have long known that spaceflight poses a host of challenges to the human body. From bone density loss to immune system changes, the journey beyond Earth is a test of physiological limits. Recently, a surprising discovery has added a new dimension to this conversation: the bacteria…
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Bacillus subtilis Survives Space Launch: Microbial Resilience
Introduction: A Milestone in Space Microbiology A world-first Australian-led study has demonstrated that Bacillus subtilis spores, a bacterium important for human health, can survive the extreme conditions of a space launch. The finding offers crucial insights for long-duration missions and future Mars settlements, where maintaining a healthy microbiome is essential for crew performance and wellbeing.…
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Bacteria Survive Space Launch and Re-Entry: Implications for Mars
New evidence from an Australian-led study shows Bacillus subtilis spores can endure the harsh dynamics of spaceflight As space agencies outline bold plans to send crews to Mars within decades, scientists are racing to understand how living organisms cope with the extreme conditions of space travel. A recent Australian-led study provides a critical clue: the…
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Bacteria Survive Space Launch and Re-entry: Study Reveals Bacillus subtilis Resilience
Overview: A Bold Look at Microbial Resilience in Space Scientists have long assumed that spaceflight would present extreme challenges to living organisms, especially microbes that play vital roles in human health. A new Australian-led study reveals that spores of Bacillus subtilis, a bacterium integral to immune function, gut health, and blood circulation in humans, can…