Chinese scientists discovered a new bacteria species on Tiangong Space Station.
The microbe, named Niallia tiangongensis, was found during Shenzhou 15 mission.
It is an aerobic, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium with unique adaptations.
Chinese scientists have discovered a new species of bacteria on board the Tiangong Space Station. According to a paper published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, the new microbe strain, officially named Niallia tiangongensis, was found in microbial samples collected from the surfaces of the Tiangong during the Shenzhou 15 crewed mission, which returned to Earth in June 2023. The new microbe has been described as an aerobic, spore-forming and rod-shaped bacterium. It is the first time a new species has been discovered aboard Tiangong, a three-module space station in low Earth orbit.
According to the paper, the novel strain closely resembles Niallia circulans found on Earth, but it also exhibits several mutations that could prove beneficial in the study of life as it moves out into space. “Understanding the characteristics of microbes during long-term space missions is essential for safeguarding the health of astronauts and maintaining the functionality of spacecraft,” the paper states, as per Science Alert.
Leave a Reply