Unknown bacteria found in China's Space station

Space station swabs reveal rare bacteria with possible astronaut health risk

A mystery microbe with unusual traits not found on Earth has been discovered inside China's orbiting space station.

According to the US Sun, A microbial sample taken from Tiangong's cabin in May 2023 led to the identification of a new bacterial species, Niallia tiangongensis, whose unique features are now raising concerns among scientists about potential health implications for astronauts during long-duration space missions.

The organism was detected through routine surface cleaning when Chinese astronauts swabbed a cabin wall aboard the Tiangong space station. The sample was studied by researchers from the Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, who later identified the bacterium as a previously unknown species.

Niallia tiangongensis shares genetic similarities with certain Earth-based bacteria. However, researchers remain uncertain whether the microbe evolved during its time in orbit or if it arrived from Earth in a dormant spore form and later adapted to the station’s unique environment.

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