NASA astronaut detects strange microorganisms in space

People still think that in the harsh conditions of space, microorganisms will not survive, but they are wrong.

The International Space Station (ISS) is usually a fairly clean place, but where there are people, there are microorganisms. And when "trapped" in a giant metal frame about 400km above the Earth's surface, NASA astronauts will be immensely interested in learning about strange microorganisms with white feathers growing in corners. stuck.

Currently, the only way to check for pollution in space stations is to collect samples and send them to Earth.

"Some areas of the station have been contaminated," said Sarah Wallace, NASA biologist. "Here, the fungus grows very much. We have removed them and biological materials from clogged waterways." However, we do not know what these things are until they are studied in the laboratory. "

Normally, microorganisms are not a big problem for astronauts, because they can cleanse them with bare hands. However, they are obligated to check for the smallest abnormal signs in space, especially when upcoming tasks cross the Earth's safe distance.

Wallace said: "When we cross the Earth's low orbit, we are no longer provided with regular supplies. So knowing how to disinfect becomes very important." That's why NASA launched a new project called Genes in Space-3 . Its goal is to establish an astronaut-friendly system for sequencing DNA of microorganisms on ISS.

Anna-Sophia Boguraev with miniPCR machine.(Photo: NASA).

The project website explains: "The experiments of Space-3 Genes are done to illustrate how DNA sequences can be used to investigate microbial ecosystems. They can diagnose the Infectious diseases and crew health monitoring on ISS ".

Last year, Kate Rubins, a molecular biologist and astronaut, was the first to make arrangements for DNA sequences in space. She used a small device called Minion using nanotechnology to analyze DNA and RNA in real time.

Devices like Minion are often used in practice to monitor the spread of diseases like Ebola and Zika. They are also used to study specimens in natural environmental conditions such as Antarctica.

Before Rubins used into Minion on ISS, no one was sure if the device worked in micro gravity. To test, the researchers sent Rubins specimens of mice, ready-made viral DNA and bacteria. Then they compared the results of Rubins to the specimens tested on Earth.

We often only look hard for aliens' traces that ignore the microorganisms. In fact, it is necessary that we focus on finding strange creatures right in space. And to do that, new technologies are needed to test them.

Fortunately, NASA has a device called miniPCR . It was designed by Anna-Sophia Boguraev - a 17-year-old student in the Genes in Space competition.

Boguraev's manual invention is a handy, easy-to-use version for astronauts on ISS. This device can perform polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on a DNA sample and then analyze it.

By combining these two technologies, NASA now has a viable solution to prepare, organize and identify microorganisms on space stations.

NASA chemist Aaron Burton said: " Connecting these devices together allows us to bring the laboratory to the samples instead of bringing the specimens to the lab."

This is good news for all future astronauts, as it will be useful to detect strange things growing in the space station walls.

Wallace - the project's main research, said: "The new device will help the crew know their environment at any time. That helps them take appropriate action, such as cleaning or using resistance. giving birth to these microorganisms ".

Basically, ISS is a giant space laboratory, the addition of these molecular biological tools will help carry out many other experiments on board. And maybe someday we will use these tools on Mars and more.