Vocal Voices

We know that many new types of vegetable have been discovered in the Houses of Parliament, but these new lifeforms are in / on the International Space Station (ISS).

The bacteria that have been found on the ISS are previously not known to science and appear to have evolved out of nowhere. Scientists are excited because they are said to have the potential to contribute to us growing food in space - certainly for journeys to Mars and also on that planet.

The species is involved in a number of essential agricultural processes, including nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilisation, abiotic stress tolerance, plant growth promotion, and biocontrol activity against plant pathogens.

So far, so good, but hang on.

If they evolved as beneficials couldn't there be others evolving as pathogens capable of doing harm?

Ying and yang. Most likely there are. But the conclusion on these bacteria was that they all came from earth and we have just not recorded them before. Possibly because on earth other bacteria beat them out.