Studying biofilms in space – why is it important? 

Biofilms are often described as “cities of microbes”. These are slimy communities of microorganisms that are typically found in wet environments and have a major effect on our health and environment. Recently, research on Biofilm activity in outer space has been gaining attention. 

Studying how microorganisms behave in outer space may sound obscure, but according to a perspective article published by Dr Katherine J. Baxter from the University of Glasgow, compounding evidence from recent years has shown that outer space environments may be affecting biofilm activity. 

Biofilms are not just simple collections of microorganisms. As the famous saying goes, the sum is larger than the parts. As microorganisms self-assemble and communicate with each other, new entities emerge, making research unpredictable. Biofilms play a role in infectious diseases, food/water security, antimicrobial resistance, and many more. In space, biofilms could be a major threat in space crew health and food supply. 

“Biofilms are often considered from an infection viewpoint and treated as a problem to eliminate, but in reality, they are the prevailing microbial lifestyle that supports healthy biological systems.” Dr Katherine told the University’s press office. 

Until now, concrete evidence to support the relationship between space stressors and biofilm has been missing. Continuing the research in this field using traditional approaches was difficult, because of the sheer number of factors that influence biofilm activity. In the article, Dr Katherine sets out a road map that emerging techniques in multiomics and microscopy will help future biofilm research. 

Dr Eszter Sas from Maynooth University and the co-author of paper told the University of Glasgow press office that, “By combining multispecies genetics and biochemistry, modern multiomics has the exciting capability to reveal new biofilm mechanisms from spaceflight responses, and is starting to fill in major gaps in our understanding of signalling and metabolism at the interface of biofilms and plant roots.” 

For future research, scientists will continue to utilise the NASA Open Science Data Repository (OSDR) which collects accessible ground and space-flight data. Research in space is challenging, so an accessible data source like the OSDR will be greatly beneficial in sharing experiment results, methodologies, and analyses. Not only will this maximise research output, but it will also make studies transparent, inclusive, accessible, and reproducible. 

Findings from this research can benefit both on ground and in space. We may be able to discover new mechanisms involved in biofilm activity but also improve safeguarding of astronauts to further support space exploration. The collective pursuit of biofilm research in outer space holds great possibilities.  

By Kazuma Oura, February 12, 2026.

Edited by Marina Milsum.