XPost: alt.space, alt.science, alt.politics
XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
https://greekreporter.com/2025/05/21/alien-bacteria-chinese-space-station/
Scientists have identified an ‘alien’ bacterium aboard China’s
Tiangong space station, one never before recorded on Earth.
The bacterium, Niallia tiangongensis, was discovered on the
spacecraft’s control panels and is believed to be uniquely
adapted to life in space.
The discovery was part of a broader investigation under the
China Space Station Habitation Area Microbiome Program (CHAMP),
which studies how microbes behave in closed, crewed environments
during long-term space missions.
China Central Television reported that Chinese astronauts
collected swab samples from the station’s interior in May 2023.
The samples were frozen and later returned to Earth for analysis.
. . .
I've seen this story in a few places today :
Short version, the bacteria contained several unique
genetic variations compared to earthbound examples,
mutations that help them survive in the station
environment and its limited food options. So far
no info about epigenetic changes.
There have also been infestations of a kind of
slime mold - for sure on the Mir station but
maybe the ISS too.
Saw something a day or two ago about the NASA
"clean rooms" used to assemble Mars rovers - NOT
so "clean" after all. There probably IS life on
Mars, now, after WE sent it there.
Bacteria and molds are HARDY things ... and
can adapt/evolve QUICKLY when faced with new
challenges.
SO, when the space aliens finally DO pry that
data record off of Voyager, they'll probably
get infested with several Earth diseases ...
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