Microgravity Archives

A preflight view of BioAsteroid Experiment Unit where the BioAsteroid investigation is performed integrated into the Experiment Container for the BioAsteroid investigation. Each Experiment Unit has two culture chambers. Credits: ESA

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biophysics, Comets and Asteroids, Commercial & Private Sector, Meteorites & Asteroids, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Missions & Hardware, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations

Microbes To Demonstrate Biomining Of Asteroid Material Aboard The Space Station

by Keith CowingDecember 3, 2020February 3, 2026

As humanity moves closer to the possibility of living and working millions of miles from Earth on planets like Mars, scientists are looking beyond our planet at how to acquire […]

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microgravity, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations

A 'Hubble Space Telescope' To Study Multiple Genome Sequences

by Keith CowingDecember 2, 2019November 18, 2023

A new tool that simultaneously compares 1.4 million genetic sequences can classify how species are related to each other at far larger scales than previously possible. Described today in Nature […]

Astropharmacy / Biotechnology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Life Support Systems, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Press Release, Space Stations

Bacteria on the International Space Station Are Adapting to Survive, Not to Harm

by Keith CowingJanuary 10, 2019November 18, 2023

A new Northwestern University study has found that — despite its seemingly harsh conditions — the ISS is not causing bacteria to mutate into dangerous, antibiotic-resistant superbugs. While the team […]

Expedition 56 Flight Engineer Ricky Arnold prepares amplified DNA

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microgravity, Nanotechnology & SynBio, Press Release, Space Life Science, Tricorders & Sensors

Tricorder Tech: Using A MinION Nanopore DNA Sequencer In Orbit

by Keith CowingAugust 15, 2018November 30, 2023

Expedition 56 Flight Engineer Ricky Arnold prepares amplified DNA collected from microbes living aboard the International Space Station for sequencing using the Biomolecule Sequencer.

Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Press Release, Radiation, Space Stations

Algae Survive Heat, Cold and Cosmic Radiation Outside of the Space Station

by Keith CowingFebruary 13, 2017August 14, 2022

In a long-term experiment on the International Space Station, Fraunhofer researchers studied how the extreme conditions in space affect algae. Fraunhofer conducted this experiment in close cooperation with German and […]

Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Gravitational Biology, Microgravity

Fruit Fly Immunity Fails with Fungus After Spaceflight

by Keith CowingJuly 6, 2014

In a study published in PLOS ONE, researchers led by Deborah Kimbrell, Ph.D., at UC Davis and their collaborators, studied how microorganisms may alter fruit flies’ immunity in space and […]

Biophysics, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Gravitational Biology, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Panspermia, Space Stations

Space Station Research Studies Exposure Of Life To Vacuum of Space

by Keith CowingMay 2, 2014November 18, 2023

In the movies, humans often fear invaders from Mars. These days, scientists are more concerned about invaders to Mars, in the form of micro-organisms from Earth. Three recent scientific papers […]

Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Press Release, Space Life Science, Space Stations

Bacteria Sent Into Space Behave in Mysterious Ways

by Marc BoucherJune 26, 2013September 4, 2022

Colonies of bacteria grown aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis behaved in ways never before observed on Earth, according to a new NASA-funded study from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. […]