Israeli team to launch a micro satellite lab into space this week
Researchers at Sheba, Technion and Hebrew University work together on project which looks at the impact of near-zero gravity on the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in bacteria
An Israeli team that thinks near-zero gravity may affect antibiotic resistance is to launch a micro satellite lab into space this week.
Research teams from Sheba Medical Center, the Technion and Hebrew University will watch as their miniature laboratory launches into space aboard an Arianespace Vega rocket from French Guiana.
The researchers are hoping to test their hypothesis that the near-zero gravity in space can affect the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, which has been described as “a ticking time bomb”.
The experiment, which is being run in conjunction with the European Space Agency, Israel Space Agency and Italian Space Agency, has had Israeli government funding.
According to the World Health Organisation, bacterial resistance to antibiotics already causes 700,000 deaths every year, and that number could rise to ten million by 2050 if trends continue.
Professor Ohad Gal-Mor, director of the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory at Sheba, said antibiotics are overused and misused of antibiotics around the world, with patients demanding a “quick fix” of time-starved doctors.
“We already have preliminary data suggesting that microgravity significantly affects antibiotic resistance acquisition in bacteria, from experiments on the ground using a special device that mimics microgravity to some extent,” said Gal-Mor.
“Now we will be able to repeat these results in ‘real’ microgravity conditions. It will help us to develop new treatments and approaches to reduce antibiotic resistance acquisition by bacteria.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
