Chinese astronauts study ancient microbes aboard Tiangong space station (video)

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Chinese astronauts study ancient microbes aboard Tiangong space station (video)


Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station are studying anaerobic archaea in an experiment to determine if some of Earth’s early forms of life can handle a simulated cosmic environment.

Shenzhou 18 crewmembers — commander Ye Guangfu and crewmates Li Cong and Li Guangsu — have been aboard the Tiangong space station since late April and have been busy conducting spacewalks and running experiments.

That scientific work includes research on space radiation damage and adaptability of anaerobic archaea, as a newly released video shows. 

China’s Shenzhou 18 astronauts perform research aboard the nation’s Tiangong space station. (Image credit: CCTV)

The archaea are a domain of single-celled organisms and one of Earth’s oldest lifeforms. The archaea used in the Tiangong experiment consume hydrogen and carbon dioxide, in turn producing methane as a waste product.

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