Microscopic worms are being sent to the International Space Station (ISS) to help scientists understand how biological organisms respond to the extreme conditions astronauts face.
British scientists are behind an ambitious new project that includes a miniature laboratory that could track how the worms react, with the hope of gaining a better understanding of long-term space travel.
Launched from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida over the weekend, the microscopic worms are on their way to the ISS, where the miniature laboratory will then be mounted on the outside of the station.
The worms, scientifically known as C. elegans nematode worms, are frequently used in scientific research and will be monitored across various space tests.
According to Space Minister Liz Lloyd, “It might sound surprising, but these tiny worms could play a big role in the future of human spaceflight.
“This remarkable mission – backed by government funding – shows the ingenuity and ambition of UK space science, using a small experiment to tackle one of the biggest challenges of long‑duration space travel: protecting human health.”
Worms are not the only unusual things that have been blasted into space in recent years. Here are some other space oddities that have been sent into orbit and beyond.
1. Jellyfish
In 1991, scientists sent 2,500 baby jellyfish, known as polyps, into space aboard the Columbia space shuttle to learn more about their development.
The goal of the research was to determine whether humans born in space would retain a sense of gravity.
Not only did the jellyfish survive, but some 60,000 developed in artificial sea water before being brought back down to earth.
Scientists soon discovered that the jellyfish couldn’t figure out how to swim properly, leading researchers to conclude that they developed abnormalities due to gravitational changes just like humans might.
2. Human ashes
There have been quite a few different missions containiing human matter, including things like human sperm and DNA sequences.
But among the more unusual space passengers were the ashes of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, who had his ashes sent into space in 1992 and in 1997.
Not only have his remains orbited Earth, but the ashes have also been sent into deep space too - ultimately helping the Star Trek creator fulfil his dream of space travel.
3. A Tesla car
As if we didn’t have enough of Elon Musk’s vehicles on Earth, there is also one floating about in space.
In 2018, Musk put a Tesla on a Falcon Heavy rocket alongside a dummy mannequin driver in a spacesuit and launched it into space, where the car is now orbiting the sun with an eventual trajectory of Mars.
4. The golden record
While not necessarily an oddity, the golden record is a fascinating time capsule that may one day communicate our planet’s story with otherwordly beings.
Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 carry a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk phonograph record that contains the sounds and images of life and culture on Earth.
The discs includes sounds like thunder, bird song, and greetings in 55 different languages, and are currently embarking on interstellar travel.
5. Dinosaur bones
Dinosaur bones have experienced space travel on multiple occasions since 1985, when Loren Acton brought from a duck-billed dinosaur on board the Space Shuttle Challenger.
In somewhat of a gimmick, Jeff Bezos then launched 200 fragments of raptor bones into space in 2021 on a Blue Origin mission before being offered as “tokens of appreciation for partners and supporters of the Huntsville Science Festival.”
6. LEGO
LEGO has been manifacturing space-inspired products for decades, but in 2011 the bricks actually made it into space.
That year, LEGO and NASA sent kits up to the international space station so astronauts could build the toys but also explore how it behaves in microgravity.
