Scientists may have a solution to the International Space Station's fungus problem

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In a cross-collaboration between researchers at the University of Colorado, MIT, and the NASA Ames Research Center, researchers studied how to prevent microbial build-up on surfaces on the ISS. The findings are critical because fungal growths can clog filters in water processing systems and make astronauts sick.

, a company run by MIT researcher Kripa Varanasi that specializes in “eliminating the friction between solids and liquids.” The multidisciplinary study found covering surfaces with a thin layer of nucleic acids prevented bacterial growth on the ISS-exposed samples.The scientists concluded that these acids carried a slight negative electric charge that stopped microbes from sticking to surfaces.

Applying this specific method of covering surfaces with nucleic acids to prevent biofilm buildup showed that in the terrestrial samples, microbial formation was reduced by about 74 percent. Surprisingly the space station samples showed an even more drastic reduction of about 86 percent. However,the team has made, based on these initial results, is that longer-duration tests should be carried out on a future mission.

Source: Education Headlines (educationheadlines.net)

 

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