NASA, in collaboration with researchers from India and Saudi Arabia, has discovered 26 new bacterial species inside ultra-clean spacecraft assembly rooms. These microbes have unique genetic traits that allow survival in extreme conditions, raising concerns about space mission contamination and offering insights for future biotech innovations.

BulletsIn

• 26 new bacteria found in NASA’s sterile cleanrooms
• Discovered by NASA, KAUST, Indian, and Saudi teams
• Microbes survive despite radiation, chemicals, and cleaning
• Have genes for DNA repair, detox, and strong metabolism
• Could contaminate other planets during space missions
• Study aids NASA in improving contamination controls
• May lead to breakthroughs in medicine, food preservation
• Extremophiles similar to what might exist in space
• Research aligns with Saudi space vision and KAUST goals
• Boosts global leadership in microbial space research