Researchers tested fungal pigment in plant-based plastic aboard the ISS; after 6 months, the composite lost up to 89% less mass

Representative image showing fungal-based composite materials alongside plant-derived plastic samples in an orbital laboratory setting. (AI-generated/ ChatGPT)

A biological pigment produced by fungi could help plastic materials withstand the harsh environment beyond Earth, offering a promising direction for future spacecraft, orbital laboratories and long-duration space missions. In an experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS), researchers found that adding fungal melanin to a plant-derived plastic significantly reduced material loss after approximately six … Read more

SpaceX rocket launch today: Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Florida carrying supplies to ISS

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Florida carrying supplies to the ISS. (REUTERS/Philip Scott Andrews     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) (REUTERS)

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida on Tuesday, October 13, carrying a Dragon cargo spacecraft filled with supplies and scientific equipment for astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Florida carrying supplies to the ISS. (REUTERS/Philip Scott Andrews TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) (REUTERS) The rocket lifted … Read more

Australian researchers sent edible fungi to the ISS for nearly a month; after returning to Earth, the mushrooms grew and were eaten in pasta

Australian researchers sent edible fungi to the ISS for nearly a month; after returning to Earth, the mushrooms grew and were eaten in pasta

Representative Image of a rocket carrying mycelium fungi launching into space on a mission to the International Space Station (AI Generated Image) In August 2024, researchers at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia sent 36 small vials containing fungi into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket bound for the International Space Station. The vials … Read more