The International Space Station (ISS) may be too sterile for astronauts’ health, according to new research. The continuous effort to maintain ultra-clean spacecraft to prevent illness could actually be counterproductive. Experts suggest that our immune systems require exposure to specific molecules and microorganisms to function optimally.
“The prevailing strategy has been to minimize microbial presence, but this raises questions about its suitability for long-duration space missions,” states a researcher from a leading university. This issue also extends to terrestrial environments such as research facilities, hospitals, and submarines where extended human habitation occurs.
While the primary goal of sterilization is to prevent contamination of other planets like Mars, there is a significant concern that common infections manageable on Earth could escalate into serious problems in space.
Research examining over 700 surface swabs aboard the ISS indicates a startling lack of microbial diversity. “The space station is remarkably low in various microbes and molecules,” the researcher notes. “It represents an extreme condition of human habitation.”
This deficiency may contribute to various health issues observed in astronauts, including skin rashes, unusual allergies, and the reactivation of dormant viruses. The presence of Epstein-Barr virus in one sample exemplifies this concern.
“We don’t fully understand why this happens, but our immune systems appear to require periodic stimulation,” the expert explains.
To address these issues, researchers propose creating a more diverse microbial environment on the ISS—without introducing harmful pathogens. One potential solution is using beneficial bacteria like Bacillus subtilis on surfaces, which is recognized for its antifungal properties.
Introducing a variety of plants could also prove beneficial, as exposure to diverse plant molecules has been linked to reduced asthma and allergy symptoms on Earth. Currently, such plant-based molecules are absent from the ISS environment.
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