Bacteria in space grow more lethal and antibiotic-resistance according to experiments. Science Alert reported that a rocket holding an orbiter, rover, and lander was launched by China's Tianwen-1 mission to Mars earlier this week from the country's Hainan province. China expects the mission to deploy the rover on the Red Planet's surface by early 2021.
#CoolSpaceFatcs Some colonies of bacteria grow much faster, and deadlier, in space. #space #bacteria pic.twitter.com/ohMuwjxX6U — Perth Observatory (@perthobs) January 26, 2020
The microorganisms can also stay this way for a short period after returning to the planet, unlike other bacteria that never went to space. These microscopic organisms also mutate faster in space, but, the report clarified that the mutations are mainly used by the bacteria to adapt to the new environment.
That lack of gravity causes the bacteria to become more resistant to antibiotics since space's microgravity promotes the biofilm of the microorganisms. Bacteria can stick to each other and stationary surfaces, because of the biofilms, which are densely-packed cells that produce a matrix of polymeric substances.
It improves bacteria's ability to survive and cause infection by increasing their resistance to antibiotics. The study said that biofilms can attach and grow on space stations' equipment, causing it to biodegrade.
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