Biofilms in Space Exploration

Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that adhere to each other and surfaces. They are associated with life on Earth, supporting functions essential to human and plant systems.

NASA’s Open Science Data Repository (OSDR) Analysis Working Groups investigate biofilms and other biological phenomena in deep space. The understanding of how biofilms respond to spaceflight stressors is limited.

Pioneering Research on Biofilm Adaptation

A recent study, partially conducted by NASA volunteers, details biofilm adaptation to space environments and explores their potential benefits for human and plant health in space.

Volunteers, led by Dr. Katherine Baxter (University of Glasgow) and Dr. Nicholas Brereton (University College Dublin) from the Microbes Analysis Working Group, contributed to the study.

The findings suggest biofilms may function as essential structures supporting human gut health, immunity, and plant nutrient uptake, rather than solely as infection risks.

The research synthesizes how spaceflight stressors modify biofilm architecture and host interaction.