Space station experiment shows microbes extract metals from meteorites

Researchers from Cornell University and the University of Edinburgh conducted an experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to investigate how microbes interact with meteorite material in microgravity, aiming to explore their potential for biomining precious metals in space. The study involved the fungus Penicillium simplicissimum and the bacterium Sphingomonas desiccabilis, which were tested for their ability to extract platinum-group metals, particularly palladium, from L-chondrite asteroidal samples. Unlike standard chemical leaching, which struggled in microgravity, the microbes maintained consistent mineral extraction, with the fungus notably increasing its metabolism and extracting more palladium than on Earth. The experiment revealed that space conditions induced a metabolic shift in the fungus, enhancing the production of carboxylic acids that facilitate mineral complexation and extraction. The microbial extraction rates varied depending on the metal type, microbe species, and gravity conditions, indicating no universal response but rather element-specific metabolic changes. These findings suggest that biomining microbes