Chinese Scientists Discover New Microbe Aboard Tiangong Space Station

Chinese researchers have discovered a new microbial species named Niallia tiangongensis aboard the Tiangong Space Station, marking the first identification of such a microbe in China's orbiting laboratory. This bacterium, related to the soil-dwelling human pathogen Niallia circulans, exhibits exceptional adaptations to space conditions, including enhanced resistance to radiation, oxidative stress, and the ability to form protective biofilms. Collected in May 2023 by the Shenzhou-15 crew, the microbe can utilize gelatin as a nutrient source and shows unique DNA repair mechanisms, enabling it to thrive in microgravity and extreme environments. While it remains unclear if N. tiangongensis evolved these traits in space or arrived pre-adapted, its discovery provides important insights for microbial control in aerospace settings and potential applications in medicine, agriculture, and sustainable resource recycling. Researchers emphasize that understanding such microbes is crucial for astronaut health and spacecraft functionality during long-term missions. This finding aligns with previous detections of space-adapted bacteria on other space stations, highlighting the significance of monitoring microbial life beyond Earth.