Potentially dangerous fungi detected by ships and space stations – Science – Apollo.lv – iTech

To find out, astronomers conducted a study published in the scientific journal "Astrobiology". It brings together all that we know about mycotoxins or fungal toxins in the space.

Many microscopic organisms, such as bacteria and single-celled fungi, are known to live on Earth. That is why it is not surprising that, through the human being, these organisms have also visited the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle.

Although scientists have thoroughly studied bacteria in space, fungi are relatively little taken into account. In part because the health problems of these fungi are usually caused by people whose immune systems are very weak.

The court, believing that staying in space could expose astronauts to stress and weaken their immune system, led scientists to focus on the effects of these fungi on the health of astronauts.

By searching the scientific literature, scientists have found only information about other species of fungi.

"We have hardly found anything about mycotoxins," said one of the authors of the study, Sarah de Saigera, at Live Science.

The researchers point out that space exploration agencies should devote much more time and resources to finding mushrooms found in space stations and ships.

The presence of mycotoxins does not immediately mean that astronauts are in danger.

In the field, people are often exposed to the effects of this type of microorganism, but if the immune system is not weakened, nothing bad for human health can occur.