Scientists in China have identified a new species of bacteria that developed aboard the Tiangong space station. The discovery was made through genetic analysis of samples collected by crew members from various surfaces inside the station approximately two years ago. These samples were frozen and later analyzed at research institutes in Beijing and Shenzhou, where scientists determined that this was a new bacterial species belonging to the Niallia genus. They named it Niallia tiangongensis, after the Tiangong ("Heavenly Palace") space station.
The new bacterium exhibits several unique traits, including an enhanced ability to form biofilm—a three-dimensional microbial structure that physically shields bacteria against environmental threats and also serves as an offensive microbial predation strategy. It also shows resistance to oxidative stress, a condition marked by high levels of free radicals—reactive oxygen atoms that interact with nearby materials. In a research paper published recently, researchers reported that the bacterium possesses advanced DNA repair mechanisms to counter radiation damage. All of these traits contribute to its increased resilience in the challenging environment of outer space. Even within the relative shelter of the space station, where they are not directly exposed to the vacuum of space, the bacteria must still contend with challenges such as microgravity and relatively high levels of radiation.
However, it's important to note that the researchers did not directly observe most of these traits. They inferred their presence based on the bacterium’s genetic and protein profiles, which are associated with similar functions in other species. One trait that was directly observed was the bacterium’s increased ability to break down gelatin. According to the researchers, in environments with limited alternative food sources, gelatin can serve as a nutrient-rich medium. This adaptive capability of bacteria to exploit new organic materials for growth—could prove highly beneficial for human applications.
In their paper, the researchers stressed the importance of understanding microbial biology in space in order to protect the health of crew members on long-term space missions and to evaluate the implications of bacterial development for the spacecraft or space station itself. For example, bacterial accumulation in critical areas such as water pipes or oxygen tanks could lead to serious damage or operational failures.
Furthermore, a better understanding of bacterial evolution in space could enable us to harness these adaptations for beneficial applications—both in space missions and on Earth. Bacteria with antioxidant properties, for example, could be used in medicine or food preservation, while their radiation-resistant mechanisms might prove valuable in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments. Microorganisms could also be harnessed for waste recycling, breaking down undesirable materials, and synthesizing useful compounds. Unraveling the mechanisms behind these traits and the evolutionary processes that occur in space station conditions may not only help safeguard crew health and spacecraft reliability, but also open new avenues for utilizing microorganisms for beneficial applications in long-duration missions.
Unclean rooms
Environments such as a space station pose extreme challenges for living organisms, due to unique conditions such as microgravity and elevated radiation levels compared to Earth. Yet for microbes capable of adapting, these same environments offer surprising advantages: stable temperatures, consistent humidity, and a controlled atmospheric composition. In many ways, a space station can be a microbial paradise.
On the International Space Station (ISS), which has been operational far longer than China’s Tiangong station, scientists have been monitoring microbial life for years. Just last year, researchers reported the discovery of s Enterobacter bugandensis strains on the ISS that are resistant to multiple antibiotics and are accumulating more and more genetic changes, so as to potentially evolve into a new species.
While undesirable bacteria can be removed with disinfection and sterilization techniques, research shows that these methods aren’t always fully effective. A study conducted by scientists from the United States and Saudi Arabia at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) revealed the presence of 26 previously unknown bacterial species in clean rooms. Many of these are extremophiles: organisms adapted to survive extreme conditions such as extremely high or low temperatures, dryness, acidity, and so on.
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Clean rooms are controlled environments used to assemble sensitive equipment with minimal exposure to dust and other contaminants. In the context of spacecraft, maintaining cleanliness is crucial not only to ensure proper function in the harsh conditions of space, but also to prevent the unintentional transfer of Earth-based microorganisms to other celestial bodies, such as Mars. The new study suggests these rooms may not be as clean as once believed. In fact, the extreme conditions used to test spacecraft components might act as an artificial selection system, favoring bacteria capable of surviving in such environments.
The reference to Mars was not coincidental - the clean rooms examined in the study were used to assemble the Phoenix Mars Lander, which operated on the Martian surface in 2008. “These findings not only raise important considerations for planetary protection,” said lead researcher Junia Schultz from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, “but also open the door for biotechnological innovation. Space travel provides an opportunity to study microorganisms that possess relevant stress-resistance genes. The genes identified in these newly discovered bacterial species could be engineered for applications in medicine, food preservation, and other industries.”