Doha: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced the discovery of 26 new species of bacteria inside spacecraft assembly cleanrooms in a scientific breakthrough achieved in collaboration with NASA and research institutions in India.

According to Qatar News Agency, the research study revealed that these newly identified microbial species, scientifically described for the first time, possess remarkable genetic traits that enable them to survive in extreme environments similar to those found in space.

The findings underscore the need to enhance preventive measures to avoid the transfer of Earth-based microorganisms during space missions. The study noted that NASA's cleanrooms are engineered to meet the highest sterilization standards, simulating some of Earth's most extreme natural environments, from deep-sea trenches and arid deserts to icy mountain peaks.

Despite these harsh conditions, certain microorganisms known as "extremophiles" have managed not only to survive but also to reproduce in such environments, raising the possibility of their survival in outer space. Professor Alexandre Soares Rosado, the lead researcher from KAUST and a member of NASA-affiliated research teams, stated that this scientific achievement has deepened the understanding of the risks associated with transferring resilient microbes into space, particularly during robotic missions.

Rosado added that genetic analyses conducted during the study successfully identified organisms capable of surviving beyond Earth, an insight of critical importance for protecting other planets from unintended microbial contamination.