The 2025 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, which took place from March 10–14 in The Woodlands, Texas, witnessed some very interesting proposals for space exploration and science. In addition to bold mission concepts, scientists presented exciting opportunities for potential research that addresses major questions. Not the least of which was "How can humans survive in space and extraterrestrial environments"? One study in particular presented how the study of tardigrades could help address the challenges involved.
The study was conducted by Isadora Arantes, a NASA ambassador and astronaut candidate; and Geancarlo Zanatta, an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. As they indicate, tardigrades (aka "water bears") have become the focus of considerable research in recent years. These extremophiles are renowned for their exceptional resilience to hostile environments. This includes temperatures ranging from -271°C to more than 150°C, pressures exceeding 1,200 times atmospheric levels, desiccation, and intense ionizing radiation.
This has made them a pivotal model for astrobiological research and the potential for life beyond Earth. According to Arantes and Prof. Zanatta, specific proteins like Dsup (Damage Suppressor) are key to their resilience. This protein mitigates DNA damage caused by radiation exposure by forming a protective shield around genetic material, reducing double-strand breaks and preserving genomic integrity. For the sake of their study, they conducted simulations of the molecular dynamics of Dsup proteins using Gromacs software.
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