A discovery within the NASA facilities casts doubt on the sterility of the world's most controlled environments. A team of scientists identified 26 unknown bacteria capable of surviving in extreme conditions.
The discovery occurred in the clean rooms of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory during the preparations for the Phoenix probe launched to Mars. The study was published on May 12 in the journal Microbiome.
Where were these unprecedented bacteria found?
The microorganisms appeared in the clean rooms of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. These areas are designed to prevent any type of biological contamination during space missions.
Despite strict protocols, the researchers found 53 bacterial strains, of which 26 are completely new. All were collected while preparing the Phoenix probe in 2007.
What are extremophiles and why are they surprising?
The identified bacteria are part of the extremophiles group, organisms capable of withstanding hostile conditions. They are so resilient that they manage to survive even in sterilized and highly disinfected environments.
Analyses revealed that these bacteria possess genes related to DNA repair, detoxification, and an accelerated metabolism. This allows them to live where other forms of life could not.
