Earth’s Microbes Could Be the Key to Keeping Astronauts Healthy in Deep Space – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries Channel

A new study suggests that microbes from Earth could help astronauts maintain a stronger immune system, redefining how we approach long-duration space travel.As humanity pushes the boundaries of space exploration, long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond present a new set of challenges for astronaut health. Space travel exposes the human body to microgravity, radiation, and isolation, all of which weaken the immune system over time. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have already reported persistent health issues, including skin rashes, cold sores, and unusual allergies, raising concerns about how the human body will endure even longer missions.A new study suggests that the answer to maintaining astronaut health might lie in one of Earth’s oldest allies—microbes. Scientists have found that introducing beneficial microbes from soil and water into space habitats could help astronauts maintain a stronger immune system, reducing health risks during long-term missions. This counterintuitive approach challenges the traditional idea that space environments must be completely sterile and could reshape how future space habitats are designed.The findings of this study were published in the journal Cell on February 27, 2024. The research team, led by Rob Knight, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, analyzed 803 surface samples taken from the U.S. segment of the ISS. Their goal was to understand how microbial communities in space compare to those on Earth.What they found was striking. The ISS, designed to be a sterile and controlled environment, showed a significant loss of microbial diversity, making it more similar to highly sanitized spaces on Earth, such as hospitals and industrialized urban homes. The researchers noted a heavy presence of chemicals from cleaning products and disinfectants, further emphasizing how space habitats are designed to minimize microbial contamination. However, this extreme sterilization may not be ideal for long-term human health.While reducing harmful bacteria is essential, eliminating beneficial microbes may be doing more harm than good. Rob Knight explained to Space.com that the human body has evolved alongside microbes for millions of years, and they play a critical role in maintaining health. “Sterile environments are not in fact the safest environments,” Knight said. “Exposure to beneficial microbes in the environment is important for maintaining health—this is not surprising because, as humans, we have coevolved with those environmental microbes for millions of years.”The study suggests that by carefully introducing microbes from Earth’s soil and water into space habitats, astronauts could benefit from their immune-boosting properties. These microbes, which have naturally coexisted with humans, could help astronauts fight infections more effectively and reduce the negative effects of space travel on the immune system.Despite the potential benefits, introducing microbes to space habitats comes with risks. In space, microbes behave differently due to radiation exposure and microgravity. Some strains that are harmless on Earth might mutate or become more aggressive in space, posing potential health threats to astronauts.To mitigate these risks, researchers emphasize the need for rigorous testing before introducing microbes into space. “These factors can be tested on Earth before proceeding to costly space experiments,” stated Knight. Scientists will need to carefully study how microbes adapt to the extreme conditions of space and ensure they remain beneficial rather than harmful.Additionally, any plan to introduce microbes into space must balance hygiene and health. While beneficial microbes could strengthen astronauts’ immune systems, they must be carefully monitored to prevent unintended consequences.If further studies confirm the benefits of microbial diversity in space, this research could revolutionize space medicine and habitat design. Future missions could include controlled microbial ecosystems, ensuring that astronauts remain healthier during long-duration missions. “We hope the impact of this research will be to guide future studies that keep astronauts healthy during extended space travel and in colonizing space,” Knight said.As NASA and other space agencies plan for multi-year missions beyond Earth orbit, maintaining astronaut health will be one of the most critical challenges. Microbes, long viewed as something to eliminate from spacecraft, may turn out to be one of the most valuable resources for sustaining human life in space. By leveraging Earth’s microbial allies, scientists could develop new ways to adapt to extreme environments, bringing humanity one step closer to permanent settlements on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.Comment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

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