Space exploration has entered a new era where microbial discoveries challenge our understanding of life beyond Earth. The Chinese Tiangong station recently became the site of an extraordinary finding that reads like science fiction but represents very real scientific advancement. This discovery raises fundamental questions about biological adaptation in extreme environments. Niallia tiangongensis emerges from space station samples During routine operations in May 2023, the Shenzhou-15 crew collected samples from Tiangong’s habitation module that would later reveal something unprecedented. Scientists identified a completely new bacterial species, subsequently named Niallia tiangongensis after its birthplace among the stars. This microorganism represents the...