The outside of the space station is extremely hostile to life, with temperatures fluctuating between 248 and -148 degrees Fahrenheit. And that's not to mention the extreme levels of solar radiation and the lack of an atmosphere.
Nonetheless, scientists have long been studying "extremophile" organisms that can withstand these conditions, including tardigrades, which are eight-legged micro-animals that have been shown toChances are that Dyson and Dominick will again encounter samples that are still teeming with life.
"The main factors for the long-term survival could be the result of their dehydration and partial in the vacuum of near-Earth space," the researchers suggested in their paper.In short, there's ample evidence that microorganisms can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations, a lack of an atmosphere, and solar radiation.
Now, with the help of astronauts like Dyson and Dominick, we're getting one step closer to understanding how they can do this and the possible implications this ability has on our search for extraterrestrial life.