Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31528: How Microgravity Affects the Glow: Studying the Germination of Panellus stipticus Fungus in Space

The International Space Station (ISS) is more than just a home in orbit — it's a vibrant laboratory for cutting-edge science. One fascinating experiment, conducted by students at Carmel Christian School in collaboration with Valley Christian High School and the Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology, explores how microgravity affects the germination of a unique fungus known as *Panellus stipticus*. This bioluminescent fungus naturally glows in the dark, making it an ideal candidate to visually track changes in growth patterns, especially under the unusual conditions of space.

The heart of the experiment centers on understanding how gravity — or the lack thereof — influences the germination process. On Earth, gravity helps orient plant and fungal growth through mechanisms like geotropism. In microgravity, these mechanisms don’t function the same way, potentially altering how spores develop and mature. This experiment sent spores of *Panellus stipticus* to the ISS aboard Expedition 47/48 to observe whether their germination rates differ from identical samples left on Earth.

Researchers used sealed containers to house the fungal spores, ensuring that the only variable influencing the process was gravity. After retrieval, the samples were analyzed for growth patterns, fluorescence intensity, and structural changes. This comparison provided valuable insight not only into basic fungal biology but also into potential applications in space agriculture, waste decomposition, and bioluminescence-based biosensors.

This project also reflects the growing role of student-led science in space research. It gives young scientists a chance to engage directly with real-world scientific inquiry and foster a sense of contribution to humanity's understanding of life beyond Earth.

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