China Discovers Mutant Bacteria Aboard Tiangong Space Station (image-X/MarioNawfal)

Chinese researchers have discovered a new strain of bacteria aboard the Tiangong space station. Officially named Niallia tiangongensis, the microbe was found in microbial samples collected during the Shenzhou 15 mission, which returned to Earth in June 2023.

The bacterium, a rod-shaped, aerobic, spore-forming microorganism, marks the first time a new microbial species has been identified on board the Tiangong – a three-module Chinese space station in low Earth orbit. The finding adds to a growing body of research on how microbes adapt and evolve in extraterrestrial environments.

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Although genetically similar to a terrestrial species, Niallia circulans, the space-based strain exhibited key mutations. Researchers say these genetic variations may offer insights into how bacteria mutate and survive in space.

Notably, the bacterium demonstrated the ability to break down gelatin – a trait that could be crucial for microbial survival in nutrient-deficient or extreme environments such as space.

Further analysis revealed structural and functional changes in two of the bacterium’s proteins. These mutations could enhance its ability to form biofilms, resist oxidative stress, and repair damage from cosmic radiation – all essential for microbial endurance in harsh space conditions.

While it is still unclear whether Niallia tiangongensis poses any health risks to astronauts, scientists stressed the importance of monitoring microbial life on space missions. Such research is vital for space sanitation and contamination prevention, and long-term mission safety.

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The discovery was detailed in a study published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.

This is not the first time microbes have been identified in space. Similar discoveries have been made aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where scientists found strains that could one day assist in cultivating food on Mars.

A recent study revealed 26 new bacterial strains from NASA’s clean rooms – some of the most sterile environments on Earth.