New bacterial species discovered aboard Tiangong Space Station by Chinese scinetists
Chinese researchers have found a new, previously unknown bacteria species on the Tiangong Space Station, a Chinese modular space station in low Earth orbit. These findings are recorded in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. The discovery has been formally named as Niallia tiangongensis. These findings were made from the microbial samples collected from multiple surfaces across the space station during the Shenzhou 15 mission, which landed on Earth in June 2023.
Characterized as aerobic, spore-forming and rod-shaped, these bacteria are genetically close to Niallia circulans, a terrestrial strain, this space-borne bacterium shows several different mutations. These differences, say the scientists, contain potential for further developing the knowledge of microbial life outside Earth.
One notable trait of Niallia tiangongensis is its ability to hydrolyse gelatin, a biochemical process that could prove advantageous in nutrient-scarce settings. The bacterium further demonstrates specialized structural and functional divergence within two proteins crucial to biofilm development, defense against oxidative stress, and repair from radiation damage. These characteristics indicate special adaptations that can allow the organism to survive in space, where one is exposed to continuous bombardment by toxic radiation, microgravity, and scarce resources with which to fight survival.
Although it is the first such discovery on Tiangong, it is not unusual. Bacterial experiments on the International Space Station already have yielded new bacterial isolates, some of which will come in handy for future efforts to grow food on Mars. Even within the spotless walls of NASA clean rooms, places intended to be nearly microbe-free, researchers recently discovered 26 new species of bacteria.
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ED attaches fresh assets in PMLA case against Reliance Group; total attachment over Rs 10K cr
New Delhi (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate has attached fresh assets worth Rs 1,120 crore as part of its money laundering probe against the companies of Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani, officials said.
Eighteen properties, including the Reliance Centre in Mumbai's Ballard Estate, fixed deposits, bank balance and shareholding in unqouted investments of Reliance Anil Ambani Group have been provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.
Another set of seven properties of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd, two properties of Reliance Power Ltd, nine properties of Reliance Value Service Private Ltd, fixed deposits in the name of Reliance Value Service Private Ltd, Reliance Venture Asset Management Private Lt, Phi Management Solutions Private Ltd, Adhar Property Consultancy Pvt Ltd, Gamesa Investment Management Private Ltd and investments made in unquoted investment by Reliance Venture Asset Management Private Ltd and Phi Management Solutions Private Ltd have also been attached, they said.
The ED had earlier attached properties worth over Rs 8,997 crore in the bank fraud cases related to Reliance Communications Ltd (RCOM), Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd, and Reliance Home Finance Ltd.
The total attachment in the case against the Reliance Group is now Rs 10,117 crore.
