Nature Communications (Nov 2020)
Space station biomining experiment demonstrates rare earth element extraction in microgravity and Mars gravity
- Charles S. Cockell,
- Rosa Santomartino,
- Kai Finster,
- Annemiek C. Waajen,
- Lorna J. Eades,
- Ralf Moeller,
- Petra Rettberg,
- Felix M. Fuchs,
- Rob Van Houdt,
- Natalie Leys,
- Ilse Coninx,
- Jason Hatton,
- Luca Parmitano,
- Jutta Krause,
- Andrea Koehler,
- Nicol Caplin,
- Lobke Zuijderduijn,
- Alessandro Mariani,
- Stefano S. Pellari,
- Fabrizio Carubia,
- Giacomo Luciani,
- Michele Balsamo,
- Valfredo Zolesi,
- Natasha Nicholson,
- Claire-Marie Loudon,
- Jeannine Doswald-Winkler,
- Magdalena Herová,
- Bernd Rattenbacher,
- Jennifer Wadsworth,
- R. Craig Everroad,
- René Demets
Affiliations
- Charles S. Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
- Rosa Santomartino
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
- Kai Finster
- Department of Bioscience–Microbiology
- Annemiek C. Waajen
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
- Lorna J. Eades
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh
- Ralf Moeller
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe
- Petra Rettberg
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe
- Felix M. Fuchs
- Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Hoehe
- Rob Van Houdt
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN
- Natalie Leys
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN
- Ilse Coninx
- Microbiology Unit, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre, SCK CEN
- Jason Hatton
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1
- Luca Parmitano
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1
- Jutta Krause
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1
- Andrea Koehler
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1
- Nicol Caplin
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1
- Lobke Zuijderduijn
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1
- Alessandro Mariani
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501
- Stefano S. Pellari
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501
- Fabrizio Carubia
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501
- Giacomo Luciani
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501
- Michele Balsamo
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501
- Valfredo Zolesi
- Kayser Italia S.r.l., Via di Popogna, 501
- Natasha Nicholson
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
- Claire-Marie Loudon
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
- Jeannine Doswald-Winkler
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Obermattweg 9
- Magdalena Herová
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Obermattweg 9
- Bernd Rattenbacher
- BIOTESC, Hochschule Luzern Technik & Architektur, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Obermattweg 9
- Jennifer Wadsworth
- Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center
- R. Craig Everroad
- Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center
- René Demets
- ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19276-w
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 11,
no. 1
pp. 1 – 11
Abstract
Rare earth elements are used in electronics, but increase in demand could lead to low supply. Here the authors conduct experiments on the International Space Station and show microbes can extract rare elements from rocks at low gravity, a finding that could extend mining potential to other planets.
