Just discovered this report: BEACON eSpace at Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Genetic inventory task final report. It is a summary of genetic studies of microbes found on various spacecraft and associated facilities. Abstract: Contaminant terrestrial microbiota could profoundly impact the scientific integrity of extraterrestrial life-detection experiments. It is therefore important to know what organisms persist on spacecraft …
In my last two posts I described the process of developing the microbial growth experiment we will be running aboard the International Space Station. We’ve tackled growth assays on 96-well plates in zero gravity, at least in theory. How well will this actually work on aboard the space station? To find out, Jenna, Wendy and …
An old, badly flawed NASA study reported the air pollutant removal rates for a few common types of houseplants. The NASA researcher had been studying the use of biological wastewater treatment systems which are effective. He did one study before he left NASA and has been advocating the use of plants to clean indoor air …
When I first heard about the 5-story biowall at Drexel University I was impressed. I’d often heard that plants help clean indoor air and it seemed that having a large experimental setup like this would be great. Just to briefly summarize, this wall features 12 kinds of plants, all growing hydroponically on a giant mesh. …