Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This timelapse was published on social media by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot with the following caption:
[English] Day 165, orbit 2557 — GEARS (Genomic Enumeration of Antibiotic Resistance in Space) is another experiment making good use of the Life Sciences Glovebox, a sealed laboratory workspace where we can safely handle biological samples.
You've probably already heard about antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are a growing threat to human health on Earth and a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. The surfaces of the International Space Station have been monitored since 2000, and two common bacterial species found on board have shown resistance to antibiotics, as well as tolerance to desiccation, starvation and disinfection.
This could pose challenges during future long-duration exploration missions, when spaceflight-weakened immune systems may leave astronauts more vulnerable to infection while crews must rely on a limited supply of antibiotics carried on board.
But it also gives researchers a unique opportunity to study how these microorganisms survive and adapt in extreme environments… This knowledge could help safeguard astronaut health and improve healthcare here on Earth as well. Go science!
[French] Jour 165, orbite 2557 — L’expérience GEARS (pour Genomic Enumeration of Antibiotic Resistance in Space) met elle aussi à profit la boite à gants Life Sciences Glovebox, un espace de laboratoire fermé qui nous permet de manipuler des échantillons biologiques en toute sécurité.
Vous avez probablement déjà entendu parler des bactéries résistantes aux antibiotiques. Elles représentent une menace croissante pour la santé sur Terre et figurent parmi les principales causes d’infections nosocomiales. Les surfaces de la Station spatiale internationale sont sous surveillance depuis l’an 2000, et deux espèces bactériennes couramment présentes à bord ont montré une résistance aux antibiotiques, ainsi qu’une tolérance à la dessiccation, à la privation de nutriments et aux procédures de désinfection.
Il s’agit d’un défi supplémentaire à relever pour les futures missions d’exploration de longue durée. Le système immunitaire des astronautes, affaibli par le séjour dans l’espace, pourrait les rendre plus vulnérables aux infections, alors même que les équipages ne pourront compter que sur un stock limité d’antibiotiques...
Mais cette situation offre aussi aux chercheurs une occasion unique d’étudier comment ces micro-organismes survivent et s’adaptent à des environnements extrêmes – des connaissances qui pourraient contribuer à protéger la santé des astronautes, et améliorer les soins sur Terre. Vive la science !
Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)
Footage: ESA/NASA
Access the video on the ESA video library: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/07/GEARS_monitoring_antibiotic_resistance_in_space
Our main YouTube channel: youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency
We are Europe's gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions
This timelapse was published on social media by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot with the following caption:
[English] Day 165, orbit 2557 — GEARS (Genomic Enumeration of Antibiotic Resistance in Space) is another experiment making good use of the Life Sciences Glovebox, a sealed laboratory workspace where we can safely handle biological samples.
You've probably already heard about antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are a growing threat to human health on Earth and a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. The surfaces of the International Space Station have been monitored since 2000, and two common bacterial species found on board have shown resistance to antibiotics, as well as tolerance to desiccation, starvation and disinfection.
This could pose challenges during future long-duration exploration missions, when spaceflight-weakened immune systems may leave astronauts more vulnerable to infection while crews must rely on a limited supply of antibiotics carried on board.
But it also gives researchers a unique opportunity to study how these microorganisms survive and adapt in extreme environments… This knowledge could help safeguard astronaut health and improve healthcare here on Earth as well. Go science!
[French] Jour 165, orbite 2557 — L’expérience GEARS (pour Genomic Enumeration of Antibiotic Resistance in Space) met elle aussi à profit la boite à gants Life Sciences Glovebox, un espace de laboratoire fermé qui nous permet de manipuler des échantillons biologiques en toute sécurité.
Vous avez probablement déjà entendu parler des bactéries résistantes aux antibiotiques. Elles représentent une menace croissante pour la santé sur Terre et figurent parmi les principales causes d’infections nosocomiales. Les surfaces de la Station spatiale internationale sont sous surveillance depuis l’an 2000, et deux espèces bactériennes couramment présentes à bord ont montré une résistance aux antibiotiques, ainsi qu’une tolérance à la dessiccation, à la privation de nutriments et aux procédures de désinfection.
Il s’agit d’un défi supplémentaire à relever pour les futures missions d’exploration de longue durée. Le système immunitaire des astronautes, affaibli par le séjour dans l’espace, pourrait les rendre plus vulnérables aux infections, alors même que les équipages ne pourront compter que sur un stock limité d’antibiotiques...
Mais cette situation offre aussi aux chercheurs une occasion unique d’étudier comment ces micro-organismes survivent et s’adaptent à des environnements extrêmes – des connaissances qui pourraient contribuer à protéger la santé des astronautes, et améliorer les soins sur Terre. Vive la science !
Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)
Footage: ESA/NASA
Access the video on the ESA video library: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/07/GEARS_monitoring_antibiotic_resistance_in_space
Our main YouTube channel: youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency
We are Europe's gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions
![Sophie sending her warmest thoughts from orbit 🫶 [French with English subtitles]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YE7WFQFHpZ4/mqdefault.jpg "Sophie sending her warmest thoughts from orbit 🫶 [French with English subtitles]
This video was published on social media by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot with the following caption:
[EN] Day 175 orbit 2712 — Sending my warmest thoughts from orbit 🫶
[FR] Jour 175, orbite 2712 — Je pense très fort a vous depuis l’espace 🫶
Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)
Footage: ESA/NASA
Our main YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency
We are Europes gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europes space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions")
![The science of nutrition! (Part 1) [French with English subtitles]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z6fu-VdH-zg/mqdefault.jpg "The science of nutrition! (Part 1) [French with English subtitles]
This video was published on social media by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot with the following caption:
[EN] Day 170, orbit 2633 — Sunday morning science with Sophie, episode 14, part 1: the science of nutrition!Keeping astronauts healthy, strong, and mission-ready…
[FR] Jour 170, orbite 2633 – La science du dimanche matin avec Sophie, épisode 14, partie 1 : la science de la nutrition ! Garder les astronautes en bonne santé et performants tout au long de la mission…
Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)
Footage: ESA/NASA
Our main YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency
We are Europes gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europes space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions")
