Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #30793: Spacelight and DNA: How Spores Reveal the Dangers of Cosmic UV

DNA, the blueprint of life, is incredibly sensitive to damage from radiation—especially ultraviolet (UV) rays. While Earth's atmosphere shields us from the worst of it, space is an entirely different story. The “DNA Photodamage” experiment set out to discover just how much DNA in microbial spores is affected when exposed directly to solar UV radiation in space.

Led by Dr. Jean Cadet and supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), the experiment exposed spores to the vacuum of space using the external platforms of the International Space Station (ISS). These spores were bombarded with unfiltered solar radiation, simulating conditions far beyond the Earth’s protection.

The goal was to measure the kinds and extent of DNA damage. This helps scientists understand the risks to both microbial life and human DNA in space. The experiment specifically targeted vacuum UV, which does not penetrate Earth’s atmosphere and therefore had not been studied much under real exposure conditions.

Results showed significant DNA degradation, including double-strand breaks and photoproduct formations. These are critical insights for designing radiation shielding for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Furthermore, this research informs planetary protection protocols—ensuring Earth microbes do not contaminate other planets, and vice versa. It also tells us something fundamental about the limits of life: while spores are among the most resilient forms of life, even they struggle under pure cosmic UV.

The study adds valuable data to our understanding of molecular biology in space and reinforces the importance of protective environments for astronauts and sensitive biological payloads.

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