Bacteria Are Mutating in Space and It’s Terrifying!

The discovery that bacteria on the ISS are evolving to better survive in space—and may be becoming more dangerous—is a sobering reminder of the challenges astronauts face in the quest to explore beyond Earth. As space agencies prepare for missions that will take us farther than ever before, understanding how microbes behave in space will be critical to protecting the health of the humans who venture there. While the bacteria aboard the ISS are small, their potential impact is anything but.