Domains of life sciences in spacefaring: what, where, and how to get involved

Aaron J Berliner; Spencer Zezulka; Gwyneth A Hutchinson; Sophia Bertoldo; Charles S Cockell; Adam P Arkin

doi:10.1038/s41526-024-00354-y

Domains of life sciences in spacefaring: what, where, and how to get involved

NPJ Microgravity. 2024 Jan 29;10(1):12. doi: 10.1038/s41526-024-00354-y.

Authors

Aaron J Berliner^#^{1

2

3}, Spencer Zezulka^#^{4

5

6}, Gwyneth A Hutchinson^{4

5}, Sophia Bertoldo^{4

5}, Charles S Cockell⁷, Adam P Arkin^{8

9}

Affiliations

¹ Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA. aaron.berliner@berkeley.edu.
² Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA. aaron.berliner@berkeley.edu.
³ Program in Aerospace Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA. aaron.berliner@berkeley.edu.
⁴ Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
⁶ School of Information, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
⁷ UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
⁸ Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA. aparkin@lbl.gov.
⁹ Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA. aparkin@lbl.gov.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

The integration of biology and spacefaring has led to the development of three interrelated fields: Astrobiology, Bioastronautics, and Space Bioprocess Engineering. Astrobiology is concerned with the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe, while Bioastronautics focuses on the effects of spaceflight on biological systems, including human physiology and psychology. Space Bioprocess Engineering, on the other hand, deals with the design, deployment, and management of biotechnology for human exploration. This paper highlights the unique contributions of each field and outlines opportunities for biologists to engage in these exciting avenues of research. By providing a clear overview of the major fields of biology and spacefaring, this paper serves as a valuable resource for scientists and researchers interested in exploring the integration of these disciplines.