In a groundbreaking experiment, scientists have used microbes on the International Space Station to extract valuable metals from meteorites, paving the way for potential resource utilization in space.
A team of researchers from Cornell University and the University of Edinburgh has successfully demonstrated the use of microbes to extract valuable metals from meteorites on the International Space Station (ISS). The experiment, known as BioAsteroid, aimed to investigate the potential of microorganisms to break down rock and release useful elements in microgravity.
The team used a fungus (Penicillium simplicissimum) and a bacterium (Sphingomonas desiccabilis) to colonize fragments of an L-chondrite meteorite, a common type of stony meteorite. The experiment was conducted in parallel on Earth and on the ISS, with the space-based experiment running for 19 days.
Microgravity Enhances Metal Extraction
The results of the experiment showed that the fungus was able to extract valuable metals, including palladium, ruthenium, and platinum, from the meteorite fragments in microgravity. The team found that the fungus-containing samples in microgravity showed more up- or downregulated metabolomic features than comparable Earth samples, suggesting that microgravity altered the metabolism of the fungus.
The study’s findings have significant implications for the potential use of microbes in space-based resource utilization. The ability to extract valuable metals from meteorites and other space-based materials could provide a sustainable source of resources for future space missions.
As noted by the researchers, the economic potential of this technology is still in its infancy, but the possibilities are vast. With further research and development, this technology could pave the way for a new era of space-based resource utilization.
For more information on this study, please refer to the original article published in npj Microgravity.
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