Bacillus Archives - Astrobiology

Selected pictures of microbial diversity of Gourgouthakas isolated bacteria. (A-B) Initial screenings of sample material prior to purecultures. (C) A “color palette” of isolated microbes from the collection of Gourgouthakas cave. Variaty of colors from yellow, purple and bioiridescent colonies. -- biorxiv.org

Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Microbiology & Virology, Sample Return, Status Report

A Thousand Meters Deep: Vertical Profiling of the Subterranean Microbiome of Gourgouthakas Cave

by Keith CowingApril 11, 2026April 11, 2026

Introduction: Caves represent unique, nutrient-limited windows into the deep biosphere, yet the microbiology of the deep terrestrial subsurface remains remarkably under-explored. In this work, we took advantage of a rare […]

Astromaterials curation team at NASA's Johnson Space Center continues to collect the bonus asteroid Bennu particles located outside the OSIRIS-REx TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) head.-- NASA

Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Microbiology & Virology, Missions & Hardware, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Status Report

Identification of Bacillus Species Isolated From Cleanrooms at NASA Johnson Space Center

by Keith CowingMay 8, 2025May 8, 2025

Bacteria are frequently isolated from surfaces in cleanrooms, where astromaterials are curated, at NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC). Bacillus species are of particular interest because endospores can endure […]

Schematic illustration of the distribution of sampling sites. The sampling sites for the SZ-12, SZ-13, and SZ-14 flights are labeled as follows: red dots for SZ-12 (with red pentagrams indicating the sampling sites in the condensate region), blue dots for SZ-13, and green dots for SZ-14 - Microbiome via PubMed

Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Life Support Systems, Microbiology & Virology, Microgravity, Space Life Science, Space Physiology & Medicine, Space Stations, Status Report

On-orbit Microbial Succession Patterns Of The China Space Station During The Construction Period

by Keith CowingMarch 17, 2025March 18, 2025

Background: The China Space Station (CSS) modules feature many areas that are difficult to clean and thus susceptible to microbial outbreaks. A new sampling method utilizing an equivalent material sheet […]

Field emission scanning electron microscopy images of “Grotta Catanese I” (GC) samples. Representative FESEM images of the studied samples, depicting A Actinobacteria-like coccoid (with 1-μm diameter) and rod-shaped cells with spiny ornamentation (GC1_1A); B filaments with hairy ornamentation, intermingled with coccoid cells (GC1_1A); and C, D clusters of the diatom Orthoseira roeseana and Humidophila (GC1_2) -- Microbial Ecology via PubMed

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First Insights Into The Bacterial Diversity of Mount Etna Volcanic Caves

by Keith CowingJune 13, 2024June 13, 2024

While microbial communities in limestone caves across the world are relatively understood, knowledge of the microbial composition in lava tubes is lagging behind. These caves are found in volcanic regions […]

Mars Sample Return

Mars, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release, Radiation, Sample Return

Microbial Survivability Of Ionizing Radiation On Mars: Considerations For Sample Return

by Keith CowingOctober 25, 2022April 22, 2024

As the goals of Mars exploration expand to include sample return, it becomes important to protect Earth from potential extraterrestrial sources of contamination.