It's microscopic and rod-shaped, can produce spores and may have evolved to survive hundreds of miles on the surface of our planet. This bacteria has never been seen on Earth and has been found in China's weather space stations. It is named Niallia TiangongensisAnd it lives in the cockpit controls on the station, living in microgravity conditions.

According to China Central Television, the country's national broadcaster Taikonauts (Chinese astronauts) collected swab samples from the space station in May 2023, and then frozen and sent back to Earth for research. The purpose of this work is to investigate the behavior of microorganisms, collected from a fully sealed environment during space travel as part of the Microbiome Project (CHAMP) in the China Space Station Residential Area.

A paper published in the Journal of Systems and Evolutionary Microbiology describes how the analysis of samples from space stations reveals previously invisible bacterial species belonging to the genus Nitt. Genome sequencing shows that its closest land relative is bacteria Niallia Circulansdespite substantial genetic differences in weather species.

Niallia Tiangongensis Showing structural and functional changes means it has adapted well to the presence in the space station. It has the ability to hydrolyze gelatin (break this protein into smaller ingredients) in a unique way, allowing proteins to be eaten in nutritionally impoverished environments to survive. Additionally, these bacteria can form protective biofilms, activate oxidative stress responses, and promote repair in the face of radiation damage. "This helps them survive in space environments," the paper explains.

Bacteria Nitt It is characterized by their rod-shaped shape, thick cell walls, lack of outer membranes and their ability to form endospores to ensure their survival under adverse conditions. Niallia Circulansfor example, encapsulate its genetic material in a highly protected cell, which remains inactive until the environment becomes favorable again.

It is unclear whether the newly discovered microorganism evolved on the space station or whether it is part of the vast ocean of unidentified microorganisms on Earth. To date, tens of thousands of bacterial species have been classified, although it is estimated that there are billions of unclassified species on Earth.

Discover Niallia Tiangongensis Will gain a better understanding of the micro hazards that next generation of space travelers will face and help design health protocols for extended missions. It is too early to determine whether space bacteria pose any danger to Tycona on Tianbang, although it is well known that its land relatives, Niallia Circulansmay cause sepsis, especially in people with low immune function.

This story originally appeared in wired In Spanish and has been translated into Spanish.