A new study led by scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia and in collaboration with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and several institutes across India reports 26 bacterial species growing inside cleanrooms associated with NASA space missions. These unknown and newly described species show genetic properties that suggest they can survive space travel. The study can be read in Microbiome.  

“This partnership not only supports Saudi Arabia’s ambitious vision through the Saudi Space Agency but also reinforces [King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)]'s emergence as a global leader in microbial and space biology research. Together, we are unraveling the mysteries of microbes that withstand the extreme conditions of space,” said Dr. Kasthuri Venkateswaran, retired Senior Research Scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a lead author of the study.  

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