Yes, this is sort of like that film with Ryan Reynolds and Jake Gyllenhaal from last year. Well, sort of.

The ISS is currently conducting experiments with the E.coli bacteria to see how anti-gravity effects its makeup and structure, and discovered that when the bacteria no longer has restrictions from gravity - such as buoyancy or sedimentation - the bacteria effectively changes shape and becomes more potent than on Earth.

IT'S SHAPE-SHIFTING BACTERIA, PEOPLE. LOCK IT DOWN. LOCK IT DOWN RIGHT NOW.

Dr. Luis Zea, which totally sounds like the kind of name you'd expect in a film about something like this, explains that they "knew bacteria behave differently in space and that it takes higher concentrations of antibiotics to kill them," however what's new this time is that the scientists "conducted a systematic analysis of the changing physical appearance of the bacteria during the experiments."

According to their research, there were marked differences in how the bacteria reacted in space - and will be useful in the event of astronauts becoming infected in space. "Both the increase in cell envelope thickness and in the outer membrane vesicles may be indicative of drug resistance mechanisms being activated in the space flight samples," explained Dr. Zea.

So, what does all this mean? Essentially, bacteria is way more potent in space - so, y'know, if you ever find yourself there and you think you've got a cold, maybe sit that particular launch out because it's just plain rude to everyone else.

 

Via Sky.com