Traces of plankton found in outer space

Scientists have just discovered traces of plankton living on the surface of the lights of the International Space Station (ISS).

International Space Station (ISS). Photo: NASA

The creatures were found while scientists were cleaning the outside of the International Space Station (ISS). Although they are not aliens, scientists do not know how they could have appeared on the surface of the space station, nearly 330 km above the ground.

Mirror quoted Vladimir Solovyev, head of the Russian ISS space station, as saying: "After conducting the experiment, we found traces of plankton and very small particles stuck on the surface of the light. This discovery needs to be studied more carefully."

The organisms not only survive but also thrive in harsh conditions such as lack of oxygen, weightlessness, extreme temperatures and exposure to cosmic radiation. Mr. Solovyev also affirmed that this discovery is especially important for long-distance space flights, although he himself could not explain why they could appear on the ISS.

Traces of plankton were also not found at Kazakhstan's Baikanour cosmodrome, where the ISS was launched into space.

"It is very possible that they follow the rising air currents, stick to and develop on the surface of the ISS," Solovyev said.

Plankton are typically small organisms, including jellyfish, that float or are weakly able to swim in fresh or ocean water.

According to VnExpress