Bacillus subtilis bacteria live in the human intestine and play an important role in digestion and immunity. One launch recently showed that they can handle the extreme conditions of space travel.
Bacteria in space
When it comes to microorganisms in space, there are usually certain concerns that they could survive where they shouldn’t. For example, ancient living organisms could theoretically cause an epidemic if they survived on Earth, or conversely, microscopic Earth life could contaminate Mars.
However, there are bacteria that we would really like to ensure survive in space. We are talking about microorganisms that live inside us all the time, especially in the intestines, and they are an important element. And recently, a team of researchers from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia confirmed that at least one of these can survive the conditions of space flight.
We are talking about Bacillus subtilis, a bacterium that is very common in our intestines and is known for its ability to not only aid digestion but also support the immune system. The flask with its live spores was sent on a suborbital flight on a meteorological rocket.
During this journey, the spores rose to an altitude of 260 km and were subjected to 30 g of overload. They also experienced significant overheating and radiation exposure. Nevertheless, they remained viable. It’s hard to say whether a human being could survive something like that.
Why these studies are important
These studies are the first to actually determine the effect of the space environment and all aspects of travel beyond Earth on Bacillus subtilis. Previously, such conditions could only be simulated in laboratories. However, scientists are not greatly surprised that the bacteria survived. It can withstand much more.
However, this result means that we can now try experimenting with less resistant representatives of our intestinal fauna. If they prove to be resistant to space travel, it means that the threat to astronauts’ health is indeed much less than previously thought.
According to www.space.com
