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26 new bacterial species discovered in NASA cleanrooms hold clues to space survival

The finding was by a group of researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and in partnership with scientists from across India and Saudi Arabia.

May 14, 2025 / 17:21 IST
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NASA study uncovers 26 new bacteria species in space mission cleanrooms (Image: Canva)

Within an environment intended to be almost lifeless, researchers have discovered life thriving. It's a twist of fate—NASA cleanrooms, intended to be super-clean, have yielded 26 new bacterial species that can survive extremely hostile conditions.

Sterile cleanrooms harbor tough microbes

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The finding was by a group of researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and in partnership with scientists from across India and Saudi Arabia. They report in the journal Microbiome that even highly controlled cleanrooms, those used to put together spacecraft, can contain tough microorganisms.

These cleanrooms are designed to exclude dust and germs. Air, temperature, and humidity are controlled strictly. However, some microbes, called extremophiles, find ways to adapt and thrive. The researchers sampled microbes from cleanrooms associated with previous NASA missions.