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Space bugs
A particular class of bacteria can survive the extremely harsh conditions of outer space, proving the theory that microbial life may have spread between worlds, perhaps on asteroids.
The bacteria Deinococcus radiodurans survived outside the International Space Station for a full year, according to research from the University of Vienna published last week in the journal Microbiome. Not only has it survived, it has also adapted new mechanisms to repair the damage, showing how microbial life can thrive even outside the Earth.
Little travelers
During the one-year experiment, the Deinococcus radiodurans it had to endure cosmic radiation, microgravity and the extreme cold and emptiness of space.
“These investigations help us understand the mechanisms and processes by which life can exist beyond Earth, broadening our knowledge of how to survive and adapt in the hostile environment of space,” Tetyana Milojevic, author of the study and head of Space Biochemistry University of Vienna group, said in a press release.
Extraterrestrial seeds
Understanding how an extremophile likes it Deinococcus radiodurans surviving space lends credence to the idea that microbial life may have traveled to or from Earth, sowing biology into the cosmos.
“The results suggest that the survival of D. radiodurans in LEO for a longer period is possible due to its efficient molecular response system and indicates that even longer and further journeys are possible for organisms with such capabilities, ”added Milojevic.
READ MORE: Microbial space travel on a molecular scale [University of Vienna]
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