Earth’s short-lived microbes could be food source for astronauts: Technology News – Firstpost

Press Trust of IndiaFeb 23, 2021 15:55:29 IST

Some microbes found on Earth could temporarily survive on the surface of Mars, according to a study that could be crucial for the success of future missions to the Red Planet. Researchers from NASA and the German Aerospace Center tested the stability of microorganisms to Martian conditions by launching them into the stratosphere, the second major layer of the Earth’s atmosphere that closely represents main positions on Mars. The study, published in the journal Boundaries in microbiology, paving the way for understanding not only the threat of microbes to space missions, but also the opportunities for resource independence from Earth.

“We have successfully tested a new way of exposing bacteria and fungi to Mars-like conditions by using a scientific balloon to fly our experimental equipment up to the Earth’s stratosphere,” said Marta Filipa Cortesao, co-author of the first the study from the German Aerospace Center. “Some microbes, especially spores from the black mold fungus, were able to survive during the trip, even when exposed to very high UV radiation,” Cortesa said.

When searching for extraterrestrial life, scientists need to be sure that nothing they find has just traveled from Earth.

“With long-term crew missions to Mars, we need to know how human-related microorganisms would survive on the Red Planet, as some could pose a health risk to astronauts,” he said. first author Katharina Siems, also based at German Aerospace. Center.

“In addition, some microbes could be extremely useful for space exploration. They could help us to make food and products independent of the Earth, which will be vital when they are far from home, “Siems said.

Many of the key environmental features at the Martian surface cannot be easily detected or reproduced at the Earth’s surface, but in the central stratosphere the conditions are very similar.

“We launched the microbes into the stratosphere within the MARSBOx (Microbes in Atmosphere for Radiation, Survival and Biological Outcomes) payload, which was held at Martian pressure and filled with artificial Martian sentiment throughout the mission. , “Cortesao explained. “There were two sets of samples in the box, with the bottom layer under radiation,” she said.

This allowed the researchers to separate the effects of radiation from the other conditions tested: desiccation, atmosphere and temperature change during the flight.

The high-intensity samples were exposed to more than a thousand times more ultraviolet (UV) radiation than the levels that sunburn can cause on our skin, they said.

“Although not all the microbes survived the trip, the International Space Station discovered a black mold, the black mold. Aspergillus niger, which may be revived upon his return home, “Siems explained.

“Microorganisms are closely linked to us; our body, our food, our environment, so it is impossible to control them out of space travel,” she said.

The story was quickly edited to correct spelling and style errors.