A groundbreaking study by scientists at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and international partners has discovered 26 novel bacterial species thriving in cleanrooms associated with NASA space missions. The findings, published in the journal Microbiome, shed light on the resilience of microorganisms in extreme environments and could lead to new biotechnologies.
The researchers analyzed bacteria growing in NASA’s cleanrooms and found that many species possessed genes that made them resistant to decontamination and radiation. These genes were associated with DNA repair, detoxification, and improved metabolism, increasing the species’ survivability.
The study’s implications extend beyond space exploration to offer insights into medicine and food preservation. The identified genes could be engineered for applications in these fields, revolutionizing the life sciences and bioengineering industries.
This research also enhances NASA’s ability to anticipate the type of bacteria astronauts will encounter on their missions and develop strategies to mitigate microbial contamination in cleanrooms.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-05-tough-microbes-nasa-cleanrooms-clues.html