mysterious bacteria growing on chinese space station

[futureofandhra]

its not found on earth

malli em chetsharo

[SuryaPrabha]

Here are the key facts about the new bacteria discovered on China's Tiangong Space Station, based on available information:

 

- **Name and Classification**: The bacterium is named *Niallia tiangongensis*, a novel strain related to *Niallia circulans*, a rod-shaped, spore-forming, Gram-positive bacterium typically found in soil, sewage, and food on Earth. It belongs to the Cytobacillaceae family.[](https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/unknown-strain-of-bacteria-found-on-chinas-tiangong-space-station)[](https://www.sciencealert.com/unknown-species-of-bacteria-discovered-in-chinas-space-station)[](https://www.newsweek.com/new-microbe-chinese-space-station-2074452)

 

- **Discovery Details**: 

  - Found in May 2023 by the Shenzhou-15 crew, who collected surface swabs from a cabin in the Tiangong Space Station as part of the China Space Station Habitation Area Microbiome Program (CHAMP). 

  - Samples were frozen, returned to Earth, and analyzed using genome sequencing and metabolic profiling, confirming it as a new species.[](https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/unknown-strain-of-bacteria-found-on-chinas-tiangong-space-station)[](https://www.sciencealert.com/unknown-species-of-bacteria-discovered-in-chinas-space-station)[](https://interestingengineering.com/space/new-strain-bacteria-china-tiangong-space-station)

 

- **Adaptations for Space**:

  - Exhibits enhanced resilience to space conditions, including microgravity, cosmic radiation, and limited nutrients.

  - Possesses genes for DNA repair, resistance to oxidative stress, and biofilm formation, aiding survival in harsh environments.

  - Can break down gelatin to extract carbon and nitrogen, potentially using biological residue or waste as nutrients.[](https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/unknown-strain-of-bacteria-found-on-chinas-tiangong-space-station)[](https://www.sciencealert.com/unknown-species-of-bacteria-discovered-in-chinas-space-station)[](https://www.ndtv.com/science/bacteria-thriving-in-extreme-space-conditions-found-on-chinese-space-station-8445023)

 

- **Health and Safety Implications**:

  - Its terrestrial cousin, *Niallia circulans*, can cause sepsis in immunocompromised individuals, raising concerns about potential health risks, though it’s unclear if *Niallia tiangongensis* is pathogenic to humans.

  - Studying it could improve microbial control strategies for spacecraft, protecting astronaut health and equipment integrity.[](https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/unknown-strain-of-bacteria-found-on-chinas-tiangong-space-station)[](https://www.sciencealert.com/unknown-species-of-bacteria-discovered-in-chinas-space-station)[](https://www.the-sun.com/tech/14281396/unknown-bacteria-china-space-station-never-seen-on-earth/)

 

- **Potential Applications**:

  - Its ability to degrade organic compounds suggests uses in sustainable waste recycling, both in space and on Earth.

  - Insights from its adaptations could inform biotechnology, agriculture, medicine, and spacecraft design.[](https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/05/new-microbe-on-tiangong-space-station/)[](https://www.ndtv.com/science/bacteria-thriving-in-extreme-space-conditions-found-on-chinese-space-station-8445023)[](https://interestingengineering.com/space/new-strain-bacteria-china-tiangong-space-station)

 

- **Context and Significance**:

  - Discovered as part of CHAMP, which monitors microbial dynamics in Tiangong, revealing a microbiome distinct from that of the International Space Station (ISS).

  - Not alien in origin; likely originated from Earth (carried by astronauts, equipment, or cargo) but evolved unique traits in space due to selective pressures like radiation and microgravity.[](https://www.sciencealert.com/unknown-species-of-bacteria-discovered-in-chinas-space-station)[](https://www.newsweek.com/new-microbe-chinese-space-station-2074452)[](https://www.zmescience.com/space/space-flight-space/chinas-tiangong-space-station-has-some-bacteria-that-are-unknown-to-science/)

 

- **Publication**: The findings were published on March 3, 2025, in the *International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology* by researchers from the Shenzhou Space Biotechnology Group and the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering.[](https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/unknown-strain-of-bacteria-found-on-chinas-tiangong-space-station)[](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3310769/new-strain-bacteria-found-chinas-tiangong-space-station)[](https://futurism.com/the-byte/bacteria-china-space-station)

 

- **Ongoing Research**: Further studies are needed to assess its potential risks and applications. Tiangong’s microbiome program continues to track microbial changes, with expectations of more discoveries.[](https://interestingengineering.com/space/new-strain-bacteria-china-tiangong-space-station)[](https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-discover-previously-unknown-microbe-174643656.html)

 

These facts reflect the current understanding of *Niallia tiangongensis*. The discovery underscores the adaptability of microbes in space and the importance of monitoring them for astronaut safety and future space missions.[](https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/unknown-strain-of-bacteria-found-on-chinas-tiangong-space-station)[](https://www.sciencealert.com/unknown-species-of-bacteria-discovered-in-chinas-space-station)[](https://www.zmescience.com/space/space-flight-space/chinas-tiangong-space-station-has-some-bacteria-that-are-unknown-to-science/)

[kevinUsa]

1 hour ago, futureofandhra said:

its not found on earth

malli em chetsharo

It's not new even Russian have found it too