Biotechnology Applications in Space Exploration

🚀 Can biology build our future homes on Mars? Transporting bulky materials from Earth to create extraterrestrial habitats has long seemed unavoidable - and expensive. But what if we could grow our way there? A recent paper explored an alternative paradigm: using biologically generated materials to fabricate habitats in situ. Common biomaterials - bioplastics, algal matrices - can block harmful UV, let visible light through, and preserve water in vacuum-like conditions. As proof of concept, researchers 3D-printed a PLA bioplastic dome and successfully grew eukaryotic green alga inside it under Mars-relevant conditions: 600 Pa CO₂, low pressure. The takeaway? Biology isn’t just a passenger in space exploration - it’s an architect. A scalable, sustainable pathway for crafting future human habitats beyond Earth might lie in the ingenuity of life itself. 🌱 Future homes on Mars could start with a petri dish.

Could radiation-eating fungi solve one of space travel's biggest challenges? 🍄🚀 Black fungi thriving inside Chernobyl's reactor shelter are challenging our understanding of life's limits, and may hold the key to protecting astronauts on long-duration space missions. Radiopharmacologist Ekaterina Dadachova and immunologist Arturo Casadevall at Albert Einstein College of Medicine exposed Cladosporium sphaerospermum to ionising radiation in controlled experiments. The #fungus demonstrated not merely resistance but enhanced growth in conditions that would kill most organisms. The proposed mechanism is "#radiosynthesis," where #melanin-rich #fungi harvest ionising radiation and convert it to usable energy, similar to how plants use #photosynthesis with sunlight. If confirmed, this would represent a fundamentally novel energy acquisition strategy in known biological systems. International Space Station**** (ISS) experiments, led in part by MelaTech founder and The Johns Hopkins University professor Radamés J.B. Cordero, also confirmed that the fungus actively blocks #radiation penetration. This matters because NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and private space companies face critical cosmic radiation challenges on Mars missions. #Biological radiation shields offer advantages over traditional materials: they #selfrepair, require minimal launch mass, and potentially grow during missions to maintain effectiveness. The approach also extends beyond #spacetravel. #Nuclear facility maintenance could benefit from #bioremediation strategies using these organisms. The discovery expands assumptions about life's environmental boundaries, with implications for #astrobiology and the search for life in radiation-rich environments previously considered uninhabitable. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eteGD9Fv Know someone in #biotech, #spacetech, or #astrobiology working on radiation protection or extreme environment research? Share this discovery or tag them below! 🚀 #Chernobyl #SpaceExploration #ExtremophileMicrobes #BiologicalShielding #Mycology #BiotechInnovation #FungalBiology #CosmicRadiation #SpaceScience #Innovation

The next pharmaceutical factory might not be on Earth. BioOrbit just raised $13.2M (£9.8M) the world's largest seed round ever for in-space manufacturing. The company: London-based. Founded by Dr Katie King (CEO, PhD Nanomedicine Cambridge) and Dr Leonor Teles (Co-Founder, oncology researcher). The product: BOX a microwave-sized, autonomous manufacturing unit that runs in low-Earth orbit and grows protein crystals you cannot make on Earth. Here is why this matters: → In microgravity, proteins crystallize into near-perfect, uniform structures → Those crystals reduce viscosity in biologic drugs → That turns 2-hour hospital IV infusions into ~1-minute injections you can do at home → Cancer therapy → moved from a clinic visit to a kitchen counter in that sense… This is not theoretical. Merck has been flying Keytruda (pembrolizumab) crystal experiments to the ISS since 2014. In September 2025, the FDA approved a subcutaneous Keytruda formulation built on that microgravity research. → IV infusion: up to 2 hours in a clinic → New subcutaneous injection: ~1 minute every 3 weeks That is what space-grown crystals do for a patient. The market is moving: → BioOrbit (UK): $13.2M seed, BOX unit in low-Earth orbit → Varda Space Industries (US): $329M total raised, autonomous capsules that re-enter from orbit → SpacePharma: lab-on-a-chip systems on the ISS BioOrbit is already backed by the UK Space Agency, the MHRA, has interest from the NHS, and is endorsed by astronaut Major Tim Peake. The seed round was co-led by LocalGlobe and Breega. Here is the bigger story: For 30 years, "drug manufacturing in space" was a NASA paper. In 2026 it is a contracted pharmaceutical roadmap with seed-stage cap tables. The reason: microgravity is not a gimmick. It is a manufacturing parameter we have not had access to. Some biologic drugs simply cannot be optimally crystallized on Earth. Now they can. The factory is leaving the planet. Let's build health that works for real life. If a drug could be made meaningfully better in orbit would you take the space-made version? Sources: MobiHealthNews · BioIndustry Association · NASA · ISS National Lab · UKTN · FinSMEs

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐲𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐈𝐒𝐒): 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐢 𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝   In the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster, scientists discovered an extraordinary organism: Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungus that thrives on radiation. This remarkable microbe employs a process called radiosynthesis, converting ionizing radiation into energy. The fungus's ability to flourish in highly radioactive environments has sparked numerous studies exploring how these radiation-eating fungi function and how they might be used to advance human knowledge and technology.   Building on the Chernobyl discovery, experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have explored the potential of similar radiation-resistant fungi as shields for astronauts in space. The study, titled "Growth of the Radiotrophic Fungus aboard the International Space Station and Effects of Ionizing Radiation" focused on Cladosporium sphaerospermum, a melanin-rich fungus related to those found in Chernobyl.   The results were impressive. A mere 1.7mm thick layer of fungal growth reduced radiation levels by 2.17%. It is too early to get overly excited about the practical applications of this fungus in space travel. The team estimates that on Mars, to bring radiation levels down to Earth-like conditions, a habitat would need to be covered with a 2.3-meter thick layer of fungi.   What makes these fungi so valuable for space exploration is not just their radiation resistance, but their ability to grow and self-replicate in space conditions. As these fungi thrive on radiation, they grew about 21% faster on the ISS than on Earth. This opens up possibilities for In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), where astronauts could potentially cultivate their own radiation shields, significantly reducing the need for heavy payloads from Earth.   Fungi show promise in various aspects of space exploration: as sustainable food sources rich in nutrients, potential medicines for maintaining astronaut health, and even as construction materials. Researchers are exploring the use of mycelium, the root-like structure of fungi, to grow bricks (https://lnkd.in/ggCuZcyZ), potentially offering a sustainable method for building off-world habitats. These versatile organisms could thus play a crucial role in enabling long-term human presence beyond Earth, serving multiple functions in our quest to explore and inhabit new worlds.   The implications of this ISS radiation research extend beyond space exploration. Understanding how these fungi interact with radiation could lead to advancements in nuclear waste management and the development of new energy sources.   Image: Fungus in glass dish #FungalRadiationProtection #FungalTechnology #SustainableSpace #FungalHabitats #SpaceMushrooms

Underrated Ideas in Biotech (#8) Or, how to terraform Mars using genetically-engineered microbes. Mars is an inhospitable planet, located about seven months away by rocketship. It is drier than almost any environment on Earth and has exceedingly "low pressure, freezing temperatures, and high salt concentrations," according to an @AsimovPress article by @StorkDevon. But if we could engineer a microbe to survive on the planet, we could wait for that microbe to divide and then use it to create greenhouse gases that warm the planet, make oxygen for humans to breathe, and even exploit soil nitrates to thicken the atmosphere. Such a microbe would make it far easier for humans to live on Mars. This is not a new idea, but using modern biotech tools to actually do it probably is. There are zero known microbes on Earth that could survive on Mars. This is because, on Mars, they'd have to contend with five major challenges simultaneously: Extreme radiation, a high level of toxins (2 ppb perchlorate is toxic to humans; water on Mars is likely salty brine with perchlorate concentrations of 15-50%), freezing temperatures, lack of atmosphere and a lack of bioavailable water. On Earth, species usually evolve ways to deal with one or two of these, but not all of them at the same time. Bioavailable water is the biggest bottleneck here. Mars is a desiccant; it sucks moisture out of things. "If one dumped an entire lake onto Mars, some of the water would evaporate in the low-pressure atmosphere and condense at the frigid poles. Mars’ salty soil would absorb the rest, binding the water molecules tightly enough that they would be unable to evaporate," Stork writes. "The lower limit of water activity for existing lifeforms is 0.585. This record is held by Aspergillus penicillioides, a fungus that can live upon dust...All liquid water on Mars has a water activity below 0.5. There are no known lifeforms that could survive in this water, as the high salt concentration would quickly suck the liquid out of cells." Pioneer Labs, a nonprofit research group, is trying to engineer a microbe that could survive on Mars. They are doing this by taking microbes from Earth and evolving them to withstand more extreme environments. For example: They took some E. coli and put them in increasingly salty liquids. The cells naturally mutated and, after 1 month of selections, could withstand 2-3% higher salt concentrations than baseline. One could also evolve cells by engineering them with thousands of different genes and then using large assays to figure out which confer a useful phenotype or, perhaps, by using AI to design new genes. At some point, though, Pioneer Labs will need to figure out solutions to each bottleneck I've mentioned and then aggregate those traits, or genes, or mechanisms, into a single microbe. Even if they don't succeed, they are publishing a ton of useful basic research about how life adapts to new environments. It's worth following their blog online.

A new review in Cell Stem Cell highlights how microgravity is transforming stem cell biology and unlocking new frontiers in regenerative medicine. Key insights: • Stem cells in space show enhanced 3D growth, altered differentiation, and accelerated maturation, revealing biological mechanisms not seen on Earth. • Space-grown organoids and tissue chips are providing novel models for aging, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. • The ISS has become a testbed for bioprinting tissues and expanding stem cells at scale, pointing to future applications in cell therapies, drug discovery, and even organ biofabrication. • These advances not only support astronaut health on future lunar and Martian missions but also promise to accelerate biomedical breakthroughs back on Earth.

I lost my LinkedIn groove for the past few weeks…. 🚀 Exciting news in the realm of space life sciences! I'm thrilled to announce our latest publication, "A Second Space Age Spanning Omics, Platforms, and Medicine Across Orbits," now featured within the Nature portfolio's Space Omics Medical Atlas package (https://lnkd.in/eHCNFdBb). 🌌 This groundbreaking work, under Christopher Mason’s leadership and a stellar team of scientists, highlights the transformative era we're entering, where advanced molecular biology and precision medicine converge to enhance astronaut health and safety during space missions. The key findings include: 1. Precision Aerospace Medicine: For the first time, we're leveraging multi-omic tools, single-cell analysis, and spatial biology to understand human and microbial responses to spaceflight. This includes the development of personalized risk profiles and countermeasures for astronauts. 2. Space Radiation Effects: The study reveals distinct responses to galactic cosmic radiation (GCR), highlighting persistent epigenetic and transcriptomic changes that could last months after space missions. These insights are crucial for developing effective countermeasures against space-induced health risks. 3. Mitochondrial and Immune Dysregulation: The research uncovers mitochondrial dysfunction and immune dysregulation as central themes, with implications for insulin, estrogen signaling, and overall health risks, particularly for female astronauts. 4. Host-Microbiome Interactions: We also explored the systemic effects of spaceflight on host-microbiome interactions, noting significant microbial adaptations to the space environment, which could inform future countermeasures for maintaining astronaut health. This publication is a significant step forward in our quest to ensure the safety and well-being of humans as we venture deeper into space. I am proud to be part of this remarkable collaboration that brings us closer to a sustainable human presence beyond Earth. 🔗 Read more in Nature: https://lnkd.in/evZ6AH_a #SpaceLifeSciences #Omics #PrecisionMedicine #AstronautHealth #SpaceExploration #NaturePortfolio #SpaceAge NASA GeneLab NASA Ames Research Center Blue Marble Space Institute of Science University of Colorado Boulder #spaceresearchwithinreach

Here is my conversation with Prof. Christopher Mason, Professor of #Physiology, #Biophysics & #Genomics at Weill Cornell Medicine, whose work is redefining how we think about astronaut health. We dig into how spaceflight reshapes the #genome, #epigenome, and the #Astronaut #microbiome, and what it means for missions to the Moon and Mars—plus how these insights translate back to #Earth. In this episode: - The body as a superorganism in space (genes × microbes) - Twins Study paradoxes: CXCL5 in-flight, IL-1RA/CRP post-landing, TSH pre-return - First DNA sequencing in space (MinION) → toward real-time diagnostics - Microbial blending in capsules/ISS & antibiotic-resistant strains - From waste to resource: biological plastics upcycling in orbit - Countermeasures: nutrition, biology, mechanical, and early genetic concepts  Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eFdz5XMU If this was useful, a share or comment helps more folks discover it. Afshin Beheshti Daniel Winer MD Garry Nolan Ariel Ekblaw Cornell University Massachusetts Institute of Technology Yale University NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration European Space Agency - ESA JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Oxford Nanopore Technologies Axiom Space Blue Origin Canadian Space Agency | Agence spatiale canadienne Jeffrey Montes German Aerospace Center (DLR) Technical University of Munich

Space-Accelerated Stem Cell Aging: A New Frontier in Regenerative Medicine Research Groundbreaking research published in Cell Stem Cell has revealed how spaceflight dramatically accelerates cellular aging in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. These foundational cells generate all blood and immune cells. After just one month aboard the International Space Station, these critical stem cells exhibited a fivefold increase in DNA mutations compared to ground controls, alongside mutations associated with an increased risk of leukemia and cardiovascular disease. This discovery raises serious concerns for astronauts on extended missions, particularly the planned multi-year Mars journeys, where space travelers could face severe health deterioration from accelerated cellular aging without effective countermeasures. The findings have immediate relevance for the expanding commercial space industry, as companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin make space travel accessible to civilians, necessitating the development of new safety protocols and regulatory frameworks. Beyond space medicine, this research provides an unprecedented window into aging processes that typically unfold over decades on Earth. By creating an accelerated model of stem cell aging, scientists now have a powerful tool for understanding age-related diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and immune dysfunction. The study identified seven distinct hallmarks of cellular aging occurring in compressed timeframes, potentially revolutionizing anti-aging research approaches. The most promising discovery was that space-induced cellular aging can be partially reversed when damaged cells are cultured on young stromal support systems. This demonstrates that cellular rejuvenation may be possible even after significant molecular damage, informing new therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases and improving stem cell therapy outcomes. The study's innovative methodologies—including AI-driven Nano bioreactor systems and real-time cellular monitoring technologies—represent significant technological advances applicable to drug discovery, personalized medicine, and biotechnology development on Earth. As space-based research accelerates, this study provides a foundation for predicting molecular changes during more extended missions, while offering new therapeutic avenues that could benefit both space travelers and Earth's aging population. The research establishes critical links between space environments and immune system dysfunction, with direct implications for maintaining astronaut health and understanding immune aging on Earth. JP Source: https://lnkd.in/eY9HDj9q