January 2025 - Microbes and Space
This special issue features content from across The Microbiologist on the intersection between microbiology and space exploration. The issue will be updated across the month of January 2024 and include news, features, careers and opinion. If you would like to feature your work in this issue, please contact the editorial team. This issue was guest edited by A/Prof André Antunes (University of Saint Joseph, Macau).
Microbes and Space news
Study reveals how ‘Conan the Bacterium’ withstands extreme radiation
Deinococcus radiodurans can withstand radiation doses thousands of times higher than what would kill a human - and scientists have uncovered the secrets of the antioxidant that confers this protection.
Microbes and Space news
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Mars analogues and where to find them
“Are we alone in the universe?” is one of humanity’s oldest questions, with tremendous scientific and social ramifications. In search of answers, a great deal of attention has been focused on our closest neighbour, the red planet, Mars.
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Microbiomes in space: Advancements in diabetes research through space bioscience
Malta’s first space mission and discoveries on the microbiome of diabetic foot ulcers.
Exploring space from prison
The Life Beyond project demonstrates that from behind the confines of a prison you can direct humanity to the stars.
Microbes and Space in Careers
Scientists put Mars DNA sampling protocols to the test with help from AMI grant
Thanks to support from Applied MIcrobiology International, scientists testing sampling collection protocols in Mars analogue conditions have shown that non-scientists will be able to replicate the tests as long as they follow the methods.
The Space Microbiology Group
The Space Microbiology Group studies how microorganisms behave in space conditions, using tools such as microbiology, molecular biology, system biology and geomicrobiology to learn how new biotechnologies could be applied to space.
Towards space plastics - and solving a few Earth problems en route
Dr Nils Averesch, Assistant Professor of Space Biology at the Space Life Science Laboratory, Cape Canaveral, reveals how his research on microbial plastic production could pave the way for thriving human settlements in space.
Opinions in Microbes and Space
Fungal structures could be deployed in aerospace industry
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The special issue for February 2025 will be entitled The Sex Issue. If you would like to feature your work in the next issue, please contact the editorial team. Access to previous special issues can be found here.
