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Calling all the space enthusiasts and skincare girlies! You may want to consider adding some cosmic complexion boosters to your GRWM routine.

NASA discovered a bacterium that can survive cosmic radiation and extreme temps from 18 months in space on a Mars-bound spacecraft—and they're using the mega-resilient organism to create a game-changing skincare ingredient. 

What does this mean for us here on Earth? Higher SPF in sunscreen and antiaging properties in face creams, that's what.

We sat down with Ann Harkey Pitts from NASA, who gave us all the deets on this out-of-this-world development.

GL: How did this collab between NASA and the skincare industry come about?

Ann: Our primary mission is to take all these cool things that our engineers and scientists create during our mission work. So when an inventor creates a new tool—something that they feel would have use in the commercial sector—we patent that and license it to companies and entrepreneurs.

This bacteria, called bacillus lysate, was found in a cleaning room in the 1990s. [NASA cleans all spacecraft before sending it into space to keep bacteria from Earth from contaminating other planets.] They found that this microbe was extremely resilient to UV lights. After some intense research, they realized it would have some great applications for medicine and skincare because it provides that extra dose of UV protection. NASA patented the bacteria and licensed it to a company called Delavie, and Delavie turned it into a skincare line.

@delaviesciences

GL: How does all that research get translated into a product you can buy on the shelf?

Ann: When we research things like this, we're not looking at a particular product—but the potential applications and what they could be used for. This was also studied in other ways besides skincare application, like being embedded into fabrics to boost their SPF rating.

So while we studied this, we tried to learn all about this microbe that we can, but it's really up to the companies to transform it into a product. We give the raw data and the studies we've done from space to here on Earth.

@delaviesciences

GL: What other uses for bacillus lysate could you see in the future?

Ann: Our hope is that this becomes a standard ingredient for adding to SPF to boost sun protection. But one of the big applications could be medical. UV is used not only in sanitation, but in a lot of testing in general. So it would be cool to see what could happen from there.

We can't wait to see what developments come from this amaze new discovery. Here's to a future of super safe skincare and extra sun protection (yes, pls) through NASA's newest findings!

Check out more from Delavie Sciences, including their skincare collection and mission here!

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Top and slider image: @delaviesciences

by Megha Gupta, Sophie LaBella and Ava Slocum | 3/12/2024