That headline might seem like it’s ripped out of science fiction. Unfortunately, El Jefe says fortunately, it’s not.

Yesterday, NASA scientists reported discovering 13 strains of a new, drug-resistant bacteria aboard the International Space Station. The bacteria has proven resistant to multiple drugs.

Enterobacter Bugandensis

NASA scientists are calling the bug, enterobacter bugandensis. This is real people, and not a subplot of Alien: Romulus. This a new species of bacteria that’s is resistant to Earth made drugs and has mutated in outer space.

The bacteria is resistant to Earth-made drugs because it mutated in outer space.

Can you believe this?

We leave in an era of commercial space travel and long term occupancy of space stations. It only seems appropriate microbes and space-bacteria travel where humans go. The ISS also have lots of other organisms growing aboard the station. Experiments involving plants are a haven for little mites. Even though there’s zero-g something can grow up there. Scientists also say the cleanliness and anti-microbial environment in the station allows bacterias to flourish since they’re not competing with other things up there.

Of course…they want to study it. NASA scientists are amazed by how the bacteria has been able to adapt to space.

Burn the Whole Space Station

NASA, nor anyone else, is saying a lot about what’s to be done about the astronauts and other inhabitants aboard the ISS. And…there’s a lot we don’t know about this thing. Bacterias can spread and what would happen if the bacteria spreads on Earth.

If we can conjure up Aliens, I’m with Ripley.

Be careful out there.

Make sure you’re always carrying and then wear protection. Between long COVID, the new sexually transmitted fungus, and astronaut’s bringing back space bacteria we always have to be vigilant.

-MJ