New Delhi: An international team of researchers from India, Saudi Arabia, and the United States has identified 26 novel bacterial species thriving in NASA cleanrooms—ultra-sterile environments designed to prevent contamination of spacecraft bound for space missions.
The findings, published in the journal Microbiome, underscore the surprising ability of certain microorganisms to endure harsh, highly controlled environments and raise important questions about microbial resilience and the risks of biological contamination in space exploration.
Cleanrooms, where spacecraft are assembled, maintain stringent controls over air quality, temperature, and humidity to minimise microbial presence.
Yet, scientists found that certain extremophilic bacteria not only survived but adapted to these inhospitable conditions, possibly equipped with traits that could help them withstand the rigors of outer space.
“Our goal was to assess the risk of extremophiles hitching a ride on spacecraft and potentially surviving in space or on other planets,” said lead author Professor Alexandre Rosado of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia.
“This research is critical for planetary protection and preventing the accidental colonization of celestial bodies.”
The study involved genomic analysis of bacteria collected during NASA’s Phoenix Mars mission, which launched in 2007.
Scientists sequenced the genomes of 215 isolates and identified 53 strains representing 26 novel bacterial species.
Many of these bacteria carried genes associated with high resistance to radiation and disinfectants, along with enhanced DNA repair mechanisms, metabolic adaptability, and detoxification capabilities—traits that could contribute to long-term survival in space-like conditions.
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“These newly discovered genes may have applications far beyond space,” said Dr. Junia Schultz, postdoctoral researcher at KAUST and co-author of the study.
“Their resilience mechanisms could be harnessed for innovations in food preservation, medical biotechnology, and even industrial processes.”
The discovery adds to growing interest in how Earth-based microorganisms might behave beyond our planet—and how their unique biology could one day support human missions in space or contribute to biotechnology on Earth.
