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WIRED
21-05-2025
- Science
- WIRED
New Bacteria Have Been Discovered on a Chinese Space Station
May 21, 2025 6:49 AM On Earth there is no record of Niallia tiangongensis , a bacterium found aboard the Tiangong station that appears to be well adapted to conditions there. An illustration of bacteria. Photograph: GETTY IMAGES It is microscopic and rod-shaped, can create spores, and may have evolved to survive hundreds of miles above our planet's surface. This bacterium, never before seen on Earth, was detected on China's Tiangong space station. It has been named Niallia tiangongensis , and it inhabited the cockpit controls on the station, living in microgravity conditions. According to China Central Television, the country's national broadcaster, taikonauts (Chinese astronauts) collected swab samples from the space station in May 2023, which were then frozen and sent back to Earth for study. The aim of this work was to investigate the behavior of microorganisms, gathered from a completely sealed environment with a human crew, during space travel, as part of the China Space Station Habitation Area Microbiome Program (CHAMP). A paper published in the Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology describes how analysis of samples from the space station revealed this previously unseen bacterial species, which belongs to the genus Niallia . Genomic sequencing showed that its closest terrestrial relative is the bacterium Niallia circulans , although the Tiangong species has substantial genetic differences. Niallia tiangongensis exhibits structural and functional variations that mean it is well-adapted to existing in a space station. It possesses the ability to hydrolyze gelatin (break down this protein into smaller components) in a unique way, allowing the protein to be consumed for survival in nutrient-poor environments. In addition, these bacteria are able to form a protective biofilm, activate oxidative stress responses, and promote repair in the face of radiation damage. 'This aids their survival in the space environment,' the paper explains. Bacteria of the genus Niallia are characterized by their rod-like shape, a thick cell wall, absence of an outer membrane, and their ability to form endospores that ensure their survival in adverse conditions. Niallia circulans , for example, encapsulates its genetic material in a highly protected cell, which remains inactive until the environment becomes favorable again. It is unclear whether the newly discovered microbe evolved on the space station or whether it is part of the vast sea of as yet unidentified microorganisms on Earth. To date, tens of thousands of bacterial species have been cataloged, although there are estimated to be billions more unclassified species on Earth. The discovery of Niallia tiangongensis will provide a better understanding of the microscopic hazards that the next generation of space travelers will face and help design sanitation protocols for extended missions. It is still too early to determine whether the space bacterium poses any danger to taikonauts aboard Tiangong, although it is known that its terrestrial relative, Niallia circulans , can cause sepsis, especially in immunocompromised people. This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
New Microbe Discovered Aboard Chinese Space Station
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Scientists have identified a new microbe that developed on board China's Tiangong space station, according to a new study. The strain, officially named niallia tiangongensis, is a new variant of a terrestrial bacteria and was found in a cabin inside the space station. The findings were revealed this month by researchers from the Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. Why It Matters The discovery holds major implications for future space missions, astronaut health, and biosecurity. Niallia tiangongensis demonstrated noteworthy resilience to space-specific stressors, including enhanced repair from radiation damage and the ability to survive oxidative stress—factors critical for maintaining long-term spaceflight safety. As humanity prepares for extended lunar and Mars missions, understanding how microbes adapt to space will inform engineering, medicine, and agricultural practices not only in orbit but for Earth-bound applications as well. File photo: Tiangong space station orbiting planet Earth. File photo: Tiangong space station orbiting planet Earth. alejomiranda/Getty Images What To Know Astronauts on the Shenzhou-15 mission used sterile wipes to collect microbial samples from Tiangong's interior in May 2023. Samples were stored at very low temperatures, returned to Earth, and subjected to genomic, metabolic, and phylogenetic analysis. Researchers found that the new strain belongs to the genus niallia in the family cyto bacillaceae, but is genetically distinct from known relatives on Earth. Cytobacillus is a genus of rod-shaped bacteria, and the bacillaceae family is one of the most robust bacteria on Earth. The microbe appears to have evolved or adapted traits suited to life in the unique environment of the Tiangong space station, distinguishing it both genetically and functionally from known Earth species. The new bacterium was noted for its ability to survive the extreme conditions of space: it demonstrated advanced resistance to radiation-induced cellular damage and oxidative stress. Researchers have yet to establish whether niallia tiangongensis poses any direct health threat to astronauts aboard Tiangong. The finding is part of the China Space Station Habitation Area Microbiome Program, which seeks to characterize and control microbial populations within space habitats. Tiangong's platform has enabled more than 180 science experiments to date, including the development of space-grown rice varieties, deployment of stem cell research, a space-based cold-atom gyroscope, and sustained experimental ecosystems, according to Chinese outlets. What People Are Saying Javier Martin-Torres, a professor at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, told Newsweek: "The discovery of this new microbe is not immediately concerning but warrants careful study. Its enhanced ability to combat oxidative stress and reverse radiation-induced damage suggests it has adapted to the extreme space environment, which could pose health risks to astronauts if not properly managed. However, it is not currently a significant threat to space travel or humans on Earth, as microbes in space stations are closely monitored, and robust control measures are in place." Martin-Torres added: "This finding highlights the remarkable adaptability of extremophiles to space conditions, offering insights into microbial survival in harsh environments like Mars or other planetary bodies and solar system environments. It also underscores the importance of international cooperation under the COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy, which fosters collaboration among space agencies to document and manage spacecraft microbiomes, ensuring astronaut safety and planetary protection." What Happens Next Research teams continue to monitor the new bacterium's characteristics, focusing on potential health impacts for crew and mitigation strategies for long-term missions. Future findings are expected to inform protocols for microbial control on the Tiangong and other international space platforms, as well as influence biotechnological innovations for Earth and space.
NDTV
18-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Bacteria Thriving In Extreme Space Conditions Found On Chinese Space Station
A new, previously unknown strain of bacteria called niallia tiangongensis has been discovered on board China's Tiangong space station. As per the researchers, the new strain has remarkable mechanisms for adapting to extreme space environments, a discovery which might have real-life implications. The microbe had a better ability to combat oxidative stress, a condition in which cells and tissues are damaged due to an imbalance in the body. Additionally, the bacteria was also better equipped against reverse radiation-induced damage, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. Researchers from the Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering announced the discovery in a study published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. "Structural and functional differences in proteins (BshB1 and SplA) were identified, which may enhance biofilm formation, oxidative stress response and radiation damage repair, thereby aiding its survival in the space environment," the study highlighted. The discovery of the microbe is part of CHAMP (China Space Station Habitation Area Microbiome Program), an ongoing initiative that tracks microbial dynamics during long-term station operations. In 2023, the crew members aboard the Shenzhou-15 spacecraft collected surface swabs across multiple modules and returned them to Earth for genomic and metabolic analysis. "In this study, a Gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming, rod-shaped strain JL1B1071 was isolated from the surface of hardware on the China Space Station," the article stated, adding that the microbe belonged to the genus niallia within the cyto bacillaceae, a family of rod-shaped bacteria. The microbe's survival mechanism could help develop targeted control strategies for spacecraft, agriculture, industry and medicine. Moreover, the bacteria's ability to break down specific organic compounds suggests new, sustainable methods for converting waste into useful resources, both in orbit and on Earth.
