Astronomer Carl Sagan put it best: “We’re made of star stuff.” The atoms that make up the chemicals of our bodies didn’t originate on Earth; they came from deep space. […]
Space Stations
Posted inMicrogravity, Plant Biology, Press Release, Space Stations
An Agarose Hydrogel Composite Has Possible Applications For Space Farming
Original article: Agarose hydrogel composite supports microgreen cultivation with enhanced porosity and continuous water supply under terrestrial and microgravitational conditions, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules Abstract: Agarose hydrogel composite supports […]
Posted inSpace Stations
MISSE Flight Facility On The International Space Station Tests Organisms, Materials in Space
Space may look empty, but it contains extreme temperatures, high levels of background radiation, micrometeoroids, and the unfiltered glare of the Sun. In addition, materials and equipment on the outside […]
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Physiology & Medicine, Space Stations
Fundamental Biological Features of Spaceflight: Advancing the Field to Enable Deep-Space Exploration
Research on astronaut health and model organisms have revealed six features of spaceflight biology that guide our current understanding of fundamental molecular changes that occur during space travel. The features […]
Posted inArtemis & Lunar Exploration, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Press Release, Space Agriculture, Space Stations
Researchers Put Space Garden Microbes Under the Microscope
When people and equipment travel to the International Space Station, microbes like bacteria and fungi also come along for the ride. While some are harmless or even beneficial, some hitchhiking […]
Posted inExtremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Microgravity, Press Release, Space Stations, Tardigrades
Working With Tardigrades On The International Space Station
Thomas Pesquet: It’s time for lunch, water bears! I took my turn feeding the tardigrades. Fun fact: they have a two-week reproduction cycle, so we are now hosting three generations […]
Posted inLife Support Systems, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations
NASA Selects 10 Space Biology Research Projects That Will Enable Organisms To Thrive In Deep Space
NASA announces the award of 10 grants or cooperative agreements for exciting new Space Biology research that will advance NASA’s understanding of how living systems respond, acclimate, and adapt to […]
Posted inAstropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Commercial & Private Sector, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations
Biomining Vanadium Aboard The International Space Station
For centuries, humans have mined materials to build the tools we use every day, from batteries and cell phones to airplanes and refrigerators. While the process of obtaining these important […]
Posted inGenomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Plant Biology, Press Release, Radiation, Space Life Science, Space Stations
Detection of Plant Genes Involved In Radiation Response
Plants will be a major component of advanced life support systems to enable deep space exploration that will take humans to the moon, Mars and beyond. In a newly-published paper, […]
Posted inExtremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Microgravity, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations, Tardigrades
Astronauts Initiate Tardigrade Experiment on ISS
On July 13, 2021, the Cell Science-04 (CS-04) mission’s first science operation was successfully conducted onboard the ISS. The on-orbit activities included setup of the Life Sciences Glovebox and the […]