NASA Marshall Space Flight Center’s Post

Icky, sticky, and hard to kill! 🦠  A small group of scientists on the biofilm mitigation team at #NASAMarshall are studying solutions to combat the fast-growing colony of bacteria or fungi, known as biofilm, for future space missions. Learn how they are fighting this biofilm battle in space >> 

NASA Marshall Researchers Battle Biofilm in Space A small group of scientists on the biofilm mitigation team at NASA’s Marshall Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama, study solutions to combat fast-growing colonies of bacteria or fungi, known as biofilm, for future space missions. Biofilm occurs when a cluster of bacteria or fungi generates a slimy matrix of “extracellular polymeric substances” to protect itself from adverse environmental factors. Biofilm can be found nearly anywhere, from the gray-green scum floating on stagnant pond water to the pinkish ring of residue in a dirty bathtub. For medical, food production, and wastewater processing industries, biofilm is often a costly issue. But offworld, biofilm proves to be even more resilient. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/guSgWm6z #spaceeducation #spaceexploration #biofilm #spacemissions

By using environmental DNA collected from fresh skin shells shed by Polar Bears and left behind in their footprints in the snow, researchers may learn more about threatened Polar Bear populations in a non-invasive ("paws off") way. References: Frontiers. (2023, December 4). "Following in polar bears' footprints: DNA from snow tracks could help monitor threatened animals." Phys.org. https://lnkd.in/ek_VuZid. Capturing environmental DNA in snow tracks of polar bear, Eurasian lynx and snow leopard towards individual identification, Frontiers in Conservation Science (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2023.1250996 Shared December 4, 2023 on the DNA Genealogy History blog: "Following in polar bears' footprints: DNA from snow tracks could help monitor threatened animals." https://lnkd.in/eJiHpV-4 #DNA

Potential Perturbation of the Ionosphere by Megaconstellations and Corresponding Artificial Re-entry Plasma Dust. S. Solter-Hunt (Published 6 December 2023-Physics, Environmental Science) https://lnkd.in/ezrNbSiQ

The collection of my plenary reports given at the international scientific and technical conference “Non-rocket near space industrialization: problems, ideas, projects” has been published for the entire history of its holding - in 1988, 2019–2023.   The book presents my developments designed to preserve the environment for future generations and combined into the global EcoSpace program. The key project is string transport, which my team and I are currently implementing.   How are the biotechnologies I have developed related to each other? And why is only their comprehensive implementation capable of preventing an environmental catastrophe?   I talk about all this in my reports: https://lnkd.in/dmciBnG3 #юницкий #unitsky #worldengineer #saveearth #biotechnology #spaceexploration #uspace #gpv #ust #stringtechnologies #transport #stringtransport

How can biotechnology enable space exploration? This issue of Century of Biology explains some ideas. #biotechnology #space #science

Delving into the Science of Cosmic Collisions: Simulating Earth's Formation The video discusses the complex conditions required for an Earth-like planet to form in a solar system. It delves into the challenging task of understanding the impact of a massive planet like Mars colliding with Earth, which involves high-velocity collisions. Researchers simulate these collisions in the lab to study the process in detail, gathering information from experiments to create computer models that replicate the entire event. This research sheds light on the formation and evolution of planets in our solar system. #EarthLikePlanet #MassivePlanetCollision #HighVelocityImpact #MaterialSimulation #LabExperiments #ComputerModeling #SpaceConditions #MarsSizeCollision #EarthImpactSimulation #vizard

Scientists have made a #significant #observation of the creation of rare chemical elements in a gamma-ray burst, shedding new light on the process of #heavy element formation. The study focused on the gamma-ray burst GRB 230307A, which was caused by the merger of two #neutron #stars. #Explosion #GRB230307A #Life #neutronstars

Biotech in space. I would argue that not only is biotechnology (microbiology, biochemistry, and medicine) important in long-term spaceflight--it's essential! Take microorganisms, for example. The tiny bugs can digest just about any toxin that exists (including mine tailings)--and turn them harmless to humans. They are also renewable resources as they can be returned to the soil or burned for energy after they die. All of the above is critical to long-term spaceflight and to keeping humans safe outside of the Earth's protective sphere!