 News & Announcements
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Hello, Space Biology Supporter!
Strategies, Research Priorities, and Challenges for the Exploration of Space Beyond Low Earth Orbit
 The Beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Instrumentation & Science Series Science Working Group (BLISS-SWG) was established in December 2020 to provide NASA’s Space Biology Program with sustained input from a group of subject matter experts from the space biosciences community. The Science Working Group provides expertise to NASA for developing research priorities and tools for exploration beyond Low Earth Orbit.
An abridged summary of the annual report of the BLISS Science Working Group was recently published and is now publicly available online in the Gravitational and Space Research journal. This report covers NASA's recent emphasis on human exploration of the Moon and, ultimately, Mars. This will necessitate a transition from a focus of its research in the biological sciences from Low Earth Orbit to platforms beyond LEO. Fundamental research questions remain about how to enable humans to thrive in deep space.
Work beyond low Earth orbit will necessitate a shift in technology development and the need to develop autonomous experiments, especially in the near term. Seven priority areas and pertinent research questions were identified for research beyond LEO in the coming two-to-five years. This first annual report summarizes appropriate experimental organisms and technology development needs for research to address these questions.
 Analysis Working Groups Symposium: Bridging Space Biology and Advanced Technologies
The Open Science Data Repository helps scientists understand how the fundamental building blocks of life itself change from exposure to microgravity, radiation, and other aspects of the space environment. In an upcoming symposium on May 1 and 2, 2024, scientists from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to participate in the Open Science Analysis Working Groups (AWG). The AWGs are subdivided into six main topic areas;
- Plant
- Animal
- Microbes
- Multi-omics
- ALSDA
- Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
The AWG members focus on establishing consensus pipelines, discuss processed data and analyze GeneLab data that enables new discoveries. This free virtual event is open to the public on May 1 – 2, 2024 from 9 am – 2pm PT. Attendees will have an opportunity to hear about some of the exciting open science stemming from the Analysis Work Group community. View the agenda to see more details about the event. Register now to secure your spot!
Become an Ambassador for NASA Science!
National Academies Space Science Week: NASA's Response to the Decadal Survey
 March 20, 2024: Hear NASA Biological and Physical Sciences Division Director Dr. Lisa Scott-Carnell's presentation to the Committee about NASA's plan to implement the recommendations over the next decade.
Visit the above link to see a video recording of the NASA response to the decadal survey, "Thriving in Space: Ensuring the Future of Biological and Physical Sciences Research: A Decadal Survey for 2023-2032".
NASA Space Biologists Collaborate with USDA on Microgreens Research Project
 Space Biologists at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) are collaborating with the USDA Agricultural Research Service to develop and optimize methods for growing microgreen plants in space. KSC Plant Physiologist Dr. Ray Wheeler discusses the NASA-USDA collaboration in more detail in an interview. Learn more about NASA and the USDA have been working together to grow sustainable crops in space.
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 Inspiring the Next Generation
 Friendly Reminder!
The solicitation for the next STAR course opened on NSPIRES on April 1st, 2024 and the next course will take place between September 2024 – February 2025. Visit the STAR Program website for more information.
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 Spaceflight News
GEARS Mission Launches to the ISS on SpaceX-30 CRS
 On March 21, at 4:55pm Eastern SpaceX-30 CRS launched the Genomic Enumeration of Antibiotic Resistance in Space (GEARS) experiment to the International Space Station.
The GEARS project will survey the space station for antibiotic-resistant microbes. By analyzing the genetic makeup of these bacteria, a multi-investigator collaborative team hopes to understand how they adapt to the unique environment of space.
Insights gained from this ISS experiment will be useful for developing protective measures for astronauts’ health on future long-duration missions.
Common, harmless bacteria like Enterococcus faecalis (EF) and Enterococcus faecium, can be found on the International Space Station just as they are on Earth -- and yet, they exhibit resistance to antibiotics and are hardier than their counterparts down on the ground.
 This ISS experiment was funded by a NASA Space Biology grant to Christopher Carr, Ph.D. of the Georgia Institute of Technology for his study, "Enterococci Evolution in Space: Environmental Adaptations, Antibiotic Resistance, and Clinical Implications". Co-Investigators for the mission are Sarah Wallace, PhD. and Aaron Burton, PhD, both of NASA's Johnson Space Center.
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 New Discoveries
Kennedy Space Center Scientists Show that Growth Substrate Determines how Silver Biocides Affect Crop Growth
 Biocides are substances that deter the growth of harmful microorganisms. Ionic silver (Ag+) is being investigated as a biocide for potable water systems in space. Because potable water in space will also be used to irrigate crops in space, it is important to know how biocides, such as Ag+, affect plant growth and development.
Research led by KSC Scientist Dr. Aubrie O’Rourke found that the type of crop cultivation system specifies how plants, and their associated microbial communities, respond to Ag+ biocides. This research shows that Ag+ reduces the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) under hydroponics. This growth inhibitory effect of Ag+ was not observed in arcillite, a clay-based substrate used in existing plant space growth hardware, such as the Vegetable Production System (Veggie) and the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH). Results from this study pave the way for establishing guidelines on the use of Ag+ biocides in space crop production systems. The paper is available online.
Image (above right): From study paper, showing the differences in plant growth and development with different silver treatment amounts
 This research was supported by a Kennedy Space Center Innovation Fund grant to Aubrey O’Rourke, Ph.D. of NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
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Biospecimen Sharing Program
Share | Research | Discover
The NASA Space Microbial Culture Collection Receives First Planetary Protection Samples
 The Space Microbial Culture Collection (SMCC) will be accepting its third microorganismal collection from Dr. Andrew Schuerger of University of Florida. This archive contains hypobarophiles, pressure tolerant species, that can act as model organisms for researching growth and adaptation to surface conditions of Mars. This archive contains 30 different species of bacteria and includes fungal isolates that participated in the ISS VEGGIE system. This is SMCC’s first planetary protection sample collaboration with the Planetary Science Division. SMCC looks forward to offering these important isolates to the research community.
Image (right): Cultures of soil dilution plates incubated under Martian conditions.
The NASA SMCC is a repository for collections of space microbes originated by NASA scientists and offers digital (genomic, phenotypic, and rich metadata) and physical formats (the isolates themselves) of space microbes which can be requested for non-commercial research purposes.
To find out more about submitting a gravitational or space-associated microorganismal collection to the NASA SMCC or requesting isolates please contact mo.kaze@nasa.gov for more information.
Help NASA maximize the scientific return from biological spaceflight investigations and encourage broader participation of the research community in space biology-related research. Non-human biospecimens are dissected, collected, and preserved by the Space Biology Biospecimen Sharing Program (BSP) team at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC). These biospecimens and associated Metadata are made available through NASA’s Biological Institutional Scientific Collection (NBISC). They are searchable and available for request on the Life Sciences Data Archive public website. Flight and ground control biospecimens are available from COSMOS, NASA’s space shuttle missions, and International Space Station (ISS) investigations.
What will your discoveries unfold?
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