In May 2023, during the Shenzhou-15 mission, Chinese astronauts collected surface samples from the Tiangong space station.
These samples revealed a new bacterial species, named Niallia tiangongensis, confirmed by Chinese state media CCTV and a study in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.
Niallia tiangongensis, a gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium, shows unique adaptations like biofilm formation and radiation damage repair, enabling survival in space's harsh environment.