Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31545: Microbial Mysteries in Microgravity: The DreamXM Experiment

Microbes may be tiny, but their behavior in space is a big deal. The NanoRacks-DreamUp Xtronaut Microbe (DreamXM) experiment explored how common bacteria grow and adapt in the microgravity environment aboard the ISS. Carie Lemack and her team at DreamUp and the Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology developed this educational project during Expedition 53/54.

The experiment aimed to answer questions like: Do microbes grow faster in space? Are they more or less resistant to antibiotics? And how can we use this knowledge to protect astronauts on long missions?

Students sent samples of known microbes to the ISS. In microgravity, without the influence of gravity to settle or circulate fluids, the microbes experienced a different set of growth conditions. On return to Earth, the bacterial cultures were compared with control groups grown under normal gravity.

The results gave students insight into bioengineering, public health, and the future of long-term space travel. Learning how microorganisms behave in space is crucial for maintaining clean habitats, ensuring food safety, and developing space-based pharmaceuticals.

This project encouraged student engagement in microbiology and the broader implications of human health beyond Earth.

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