The International Space Station (|SS) has low microbial diversity, which could lead to astronaut health issues, according to a study published in Cell.

Researchers found that the microbial communities resemble those found in sanitized environments like hospitals rather than natural settings.

Co-senior study author Pieter Dorrestein explains that increasing microbial exposure could improve astronaut health during long-term space travel.

The study suggests incorporating natural elements, like soil, into the ISS to enhance microbial diversity and astronaut well-being.

The study in question:

https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(25)00108-4

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[–] Cocodapuf 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

humans simply are not built for space.

Humans aren't built for 0g, and I expect we will never live whole lives like that. But living in space does not require living in 0g.

I'm quite certain that if humans manage to survive and continue to thrive for another 200 years, we will absolutely be living in space. And at that point it will be inevitable that the number of humans living in space will eventually come to dwarf the number living on planets.

[–] surph_ninja 2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Gravity isn’t the only issue. Radiation and cosmic rays are a much bigger problem than that. Psychological issues from being in cramped ships for so long. Food production. All sorts of other crap, too.

[–] Cocodapuf 3 points 2 days ago

Radiation isn't that big a deal. If you have a large enough structure for a colony, or even large enough for 50 people, then you have plenty of mass for radiation shielding. At that scale it's a non-issue.

Psychological issues from being in cramped ships for so long.

Well, only at first... Families don't want to live in cramped ships, so they won't. They'll live in artificial habitats with grass and open spaces. Eventually they'll be large enough to have rivers and mountains.

But even without all that, just ask anyone who's served on a submarine if it's possible to survive in cramped quarters. It's doable.