Ian Malcolm is right . Life finds a way , even when we try our unspoiled to stop it . One such situation is the contamination by microorganism of NASA ’s spacecraft and clean rooms . Now research worker have discover how bacteria can survive where it should n’t : They eat the cleaning product .
The squad studiedAcinetobacter , a predominant family of bacteria that are found in the clean suite . They discovered that once sources of food become scarce , these resourceful microbe commence to biodegrade the cleansing agents using during ballistic capsule assembly . The results are published inAstrobiology .
The strains that were psychoanalyze show a remarkable ability to break down isopropyl inebriant and Kleenol 30 , both of which are cleaning agents commonly used in these character of facilities . Understanding how contaminants make it on spacecraft is important if we want to post spaceships to study places where life might be , like Europa or Enceladus , without mess with it .
" We ’re giving the planetary protection biotic community a baseline understanding of why these microorganisms remain in the clean way , " lead investigator Professor Rakesh Mogul , from Cal Poly Pomona , enunciate in astatement . " There ’s always stuff come into the clean way , but one of the dubiousness has been why do the bug remain in the clean elbow room , and why is there a set of microorganisms that are mutual to the clean rooms . "
The discovery was uncovered by Mogul and colleague Professor Gregory Barding Jr. as part of a educatee projection . Five undergraduates in biology , 14 undergraduate in chemical science , and three chemistry graduate students take part in the research . The 22 students analyzed strains ofAcinetobactercollected from the clean elbow room where Mars Odyssey and Phoenix ballistic capsule were assembled .
" We design the project to give students hands - on experience – and to hold up the ascertain - by - doing ism of Cal Poly Pomona . The students did the enquiry , mostly as thesis projects in the areas of enzymology , molecular microbiology and analytical chemistry , " excuse Mogul .
The researchers indicate , as a precaution , that cleaning product be diversified and revolve to try out , as expert as potential , to clean the spacecraft . We are yet to mail a cunning into an environs that we think to be suited for life , but that could soon change . If we want to truly investigate theregions of Marswhere water might be seasonally flowing or the oceans oficy moons , we ask to have pristine spacecraft . And this work is a step in that direction .
