Usage of microgravity simulators for research
Microgravity is the condition of free fall, in which there is no net force acting on an object. This is the environment that astronauts experience in space, and it has a number of unique effects on living organisms. Microgravity research is important for understanding the fundamental biology of living things, as well as for developing […]
Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter pittii is adapting to and exhibiting potential succession aboard the International Space Station
Link to the paper: https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/…/s40168… The paper discusses the adaptation of the opportunistic pathogen Acinetobacter pittii to the extreme environment of the International Space Station (ISS), including its acquisition of increased resistance to antibiotics and potential succession aboard the ISS. The study highlights the importance of monitoring microbial evolution and infection prevention in space environments. […]
Acinetobacter pittii as a Model Organism for Space Research
Acinetobacter pittii is a Gram-negative, aerobic bacterium that is commonly found in the environment. It is also a relatively hardy organism that can survive in extreme environments, such as those found in space. This makes A. pittii a promising model organism for space research. A. pittii has been shown to be capable of surviving in […]
Brachypodium distachyon Seedlings Display Accession-Specific Morphological and Transcriptomic Responses to the Microgravity Environment of the International Space Station
Link to the paper: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/3/626 Plants are important for space exploration, but few experiments have been done on monocot plants. This study investigated the growth and transcriptomic responses of Brachypodium distachyon seedlings to microgravity on the International Space Station, finding accession- and organ-specific responses. The paper investigates the growth and transcriptomic responses of Brachypodium distachyon […]
Brachypodium distachyon seedlings as a model organism for space research
Brachypodium distachyon is a grass species that has emerged as a valuable model organism for space research. It has a number of advantages over other model organisms, including: A small and well-annotated genome. The Brachypodium genome is about one-third the size of the human genome and has been fully sequenced and annotated. This makes it […]
Investigating the effects of chronic low‑dose radiation exposure in the liver of a hypothermic zebrafish model
Link to the paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-26976-4 The paper investigates the effects of chronic low-dose radiation exposure in the liver of a hypothermic zebrafish model. The study explores the use of induced torpor to mitigate the deleterious effects of radiation exposure and reveals transcriptomic perturbations in lipid metabolism and absorption, wound healing, immune response, and fibrogenic pathways. […]
Effects of reloading and adaptation after long-duration missions beyond LEO
Astronauts will be exposed to a number of environmental stressors that can have a significant impact on their health and well-being during long-duration space missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). These stressors include microgravity, radiation, isolation, and confinement. One of the most important challenges astronauts face on long-duration missions is they require to reload their […]
Electromagnetic Fields to Improve Human Performance in Space
Electric and magnetic fields are two components of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Electric fields are created by differences in voltage, while magnetic fields are created by electric current. The strength of an electric field is proportional to the voltage difference, while the strength of a magnetic field is proportional to the electric current. Natural sources of […]
The science behind the UFOs: Strange incidents that have piqued NASA’s interest in recent years
Unidentified flying objects (UFOs) have been a source of fascination and speculation for centuries. While there is no scientific consensus on what UFOs are or where they come from, there is a growing body of scientific evidence that suggests that some UFOs may be real and not simply hoaxes or misidentified objects. One of the […]
Whole metagenome profiles of particulates collected from the International Space Station
Link to the paper: https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/…/s40168… The paper examines the whole metagenome of microbes present in the International Space Station (ISS) and compares it with samples collected in a terrestrial cleanroom environment. The study aims to understand the microbial content and ecology of the ISS and its potential impact on human health. This paper contributes to […]