Why NASA is studying 1.2-billion-year-old Scottish rocks for clues to ancient life on Mars and the Red Planet’s watery pastAncient rocks found in Scotland's Stoer Formation are being studied by NASA to understand potential signs of life. These rocks formed 1.2 b...
30 Sep, 2026, 01.15 AM IST
In 2014, ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst wore SpaceTex shirts on the ISS for six months; their fabric data helped inform clothes for future Mars crewsInnovative space experiments have focused on how fabrics can effectively manage astronaut sweat and heat during missions. These studies rev...
15 Sep, 2026, 07.20 PM IST
In 1966, Gemini 9 and Gemini 12 exposed fungal spores and viruses directly to space; a 0.4 mm aluminum shield kept fungal spores alive and boosted virus survival 3,000-foldEarly space missions tested microbial survival outside spacecraft without protection. Fungal spores and viruses showed very low survival ra...
06 Sep, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
In 2005, ESA exposed two kinds of lichen to space for 14.6 days; both remained metabolically active and recovered after returning to EarthIn a groundbreaking experiment, two lichen species, Rhizocarpon geographicum and Xanthoria elegans, showcased extraordinary durability by s...
05 Sep, 2026, 01.20 PM IST
In 1984, NASA left Bacillus spores in space for nearly 6 years; after LDEF returned to Earth, 1–2% of the exposed spores were still aliveDuring an extensive six-year voyage aboard the LDEF satellite, soil bacteria spores demonstrated remarkable resilience, surviving the rigor...
05 Sep, 2026, 01.10 PM IST
In 2015, Japan exposed bacteria outside the ISS for 3 years; some clumps survived, while thicker ones were estimated to last longerJapanese researchers launched the resilient bacteria Deinococcus into orbit aboard the International Space Station. Remarkably, these micro...
05 Sep, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
In 1966, NASA launched Biosatellite I with 13 biology experiments and more than 10 million organisms; its retrorocket failed, and the spacecraft was never recoveredIn 1966, NASA's Biosatellite I mission attempted to carry over ten million organisms into orbit, but a retrorocket malfunction led to the c...
04 Sep, 2026, 01.40 PM IST
In 1967, NASA flew flour beetle pupae on Biosatellite II for 45 hours; radiation and weightlessness raised wing abnormalities in flight from 29.9% to 44.8%During the 1967 Biosatellite II mission, flour beetles displayed notable wing deformities, underscoring how weightlessness amplified the ad...
04 Sep, 2026, 01.30 PM IST
In 1967, Biosatellite II irradiated parasitic wasps for 2 days in orbit; females later laid as many eggs as controls, and hatchability remained excellentA 1967 NASA mission sent parasitic wasps into orbit around Earth. These wasps showed surprising resistance to radiation damage while in spa...
02 Sep, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
In 1962, NASA packed 22,900 gallons of water into a Saturn I rocket and deliberately released it 65 miles above Earth to see how water behaved in the upper atmosphereNASA scientists have long explored recycling resources for extended space travel. Plants and microorganisms could help regenerate vital sup...
28 Aug, 2026, 09.39 PM IST
NASA sent Pseudomonas aeruginosa on shuttle Atlantis to space, where it formed denser biofilms with an unusual “column-and-canopy” structureIn groundbreaking space experiments, bacteria grown in synthetic urine were sent aboard the Atlantis space shuttle on two occasions. These ...
27 Aug, 2026, 02.50 PM IST
52 astronauts left Earth for months in orbit, and within weeks their gut bacteria changed how they processed food, revealing why spaceflight can trigger constipation and potentially affect brain healthConstipation in space is more than an uncomfortable side effect. Astronauts often face it during long missions, but scientists have not ful...
18 Aug, 2026, 12.45 AM IST
In 2012, NASA's Curiosity Rover discovered a home, now that 96-mile wide Gale Crater is sparking claims of finding doorway to a long lost civilization in MarsNASA, the European Space Agency, and other international partners continue planning ambitious explorations of Mars, including efforts to re...
29 Jul, 2026, 08.30 PM IST
In 2005, scientists thawed 32,000-year-old organisms frozen since the Ice Age, and they started swimming almost immediately, challenging everything we knew about life's limitsNASA scientists made a groundbreaking discovery deep inside Alaskan permafrost. They defrosted 32,000-year-old bacteria frozen since the an...
27 Jul, 2026, 08.01 PM IST
Mars could have conditions suitable for life, reveals new discoveryThis alternating pattern of wet and dry periods is believed to have created an environment conducive to the development of complex ancient ...
10 Aug, 2023, 01.20 AM IST
- 'Mars-quakes' could produce energy source to support life
New York, Sep 21 (IANS) Rocks formed by the grinding together of other rocks during earthquakes are rich in trapped hydrogen and similar se...
21 Sep, 2016, 11.47 AM IST
Organisms from Earth could survive on Mars: StudyMars could support life in the shape of methanogens, one of the simplest and oldest microorganisms found on Earth, a new study claims.
03 Jun, 2015, 01.11 PM IST