Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #32191: Bacteria, Coffee, and Microgravity: Student Science on the ISS
- Agnirva.com
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
Coffee is beloved around the world, but could it also be a space-friendly weapon against bacteria? That’s the question two students from iLEAD Schools in Castaic, California—Olivia Rothenberg and Sophie Muncy—set out to answer. Their project, sent to the ISS on Expedition 57/58, studied the interaction between coffee and Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria responsible for tooth decay, in microgravity.
The idea stemmed from a simple but powerful curiosity: if coffee shows antibacterial properties on Earth, how does it perform in space where gravity is nearly absent? The experiment involved exposing cultures of S. mutans to coffee in microgravity, then comparing the results to identical samples on Earth.
Why does this matter? Astronauts face a unique set of challenges to oral health in space, including limited dental care and altered bacterial behavior. If coffee proves to be an effective antibacterial agent in microgravity, it could become a low-cost, easily consumable oral hygiene tool for long-duration missions.
The experiment also offered students a firsthand experience with scientific inquiry and space research. It demonstrates how educational projects can make meaningful contributions to space science, fostering the next generation of researchers.
Interestingly, the results could influence how we understand microbial resistance in space. Since bacteria can behave differently in orbit—often becoming more aggressive—finding ways to counteract them is vital for astronaut health.
This project is a testament to the value of student-led science. It shows how young minds, when given the opportunity, can explore complex questions and help solve real-world problems, even from orbit.
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