As the world looks towards the stars, the impacts of endogenous and exogenous microorganisms on human health during long-duration space flight are subjects of increased interest within the space community. The presence and continued growth of bacterial biofilms about spacecraft has been documented for decades; however, the impact on crew health is in its infancy. The impacts of biofilms are well known in the medical, agricultural, commercial, and industrial spaces. It less known that biofilms are undermining many facets of space travel and that their effects need to be understood and addressed for future space missions. Biofilms can damage space crew health and spoil limited food supply. Yet, at the same time, they can benefit plant systems for food growth, nutrient development, and other biological systems that are being explored for use in space travel. Various biofilm removal techniques have been studied to mitigate the hazards posed by biofilm persistence during space travel. Because the presence of biofilms can advance or hinder humanity’s space exploration efforts, an understanding of their impacts over the duration of space flights is of paramount importance.

Increasingly, psychologists in the United States are engaged in social justice research aimed at better understanding the implications of identity and privilege (or lack thereof) on a variety of psychological and social constructs as well as behavior. Given the reemerging issues of social unrest and growing recognition of health equity and the social determinants of health, the importance of including people of color with stigmatized intersecting identities (e.g., people of color who identify as LGBTQþ) into research relevant to their oppressed positions is critical. Beyond the need for social justice research or research relevant for people of color with intersecting identities, it is well established that diverse samples are important for the generalization of findings across a variety of research areas. Framed within critical race theory, the purpose of this article is to describe the importance of, challenges to, and recommendations for conducting psychological research with people of color with oppressed intersecting identities. Funding and ethical considerations are explored, and a call to action for psychological researchers is offered.What is the significance of this article for the general public?Social justice research is more important than ever given the racial inequalities and health disparities that continue to exist in America. However, methodological, ethical, and funding challenges exist when conducting research with or for people of color, particularly those with multiple stigmatized identities. Psychologists and social scientists are encouraged to apply the tenets of critical race theory in order to overcome the challenges associated with social justice research.

COVID-19's rapid emergence as a biological and psychosocial threat has affected people globally. The purpose of this qualitative study, which was guided by syndemic theory and the biopsychosocial framework, was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on youth living with HIV (YLWH) in Kenya. Seven virtual focus groups and two in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 YLWH aged 18-24, 13 youth affected by HIV aged 18-24, and 12 HIV healthcare providers living in Nakuru and Eldoret, two of Kenya's largest cities. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, which was guided by a descriptive phenomenological approach. Findings provided information about the problems and needs of YLWH as well as potential solutions for mitigating COVID-19's biopsychosocial impact and syndemic effect on YLWH in Kenya. A variety of individual, community, healthcare, and government issues were identified including but not limited to concerns about psychosocial functioning; economic stability; access to medical treatment and medication; the availability of goods and services; patient education; and the dissemination of accurate information. These findings have important implications for addressing the ongoing and long-term impact of the pandemic on YLWH in resource-limited settings through research, policy, and practice.

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