Summary Microbial research in space is being conducted for almost 50 years now. The closed system of the International Space Station (ISS) has acted as a microbial observatory for the past 10 years, conducting research on adaptation and survivability of microorganisms exposed to space conditions. This adaptation can be either beneficial or detrimental to crew members and spacecraft. Therefore, it becomes crucial to identify the impact of two primary stress conditions, namely, radiation and microgravity, on microbial life aboard the ISS. Elucidating the mechanistic basis of microbial adaptation to space conditions aids in the development of countermeasures against their potentially detrimental effects and allows us to harness their biotechnologically important properties. Several microbial processes have been studied, either in spaceflight or using devices that can simulate space conditions. However, at present, research is limited to only a few microorganisms, and extensive research on biotechnologically important microorganisms is required to make long-term space missions self-sustainable.

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More than 50 million minks are produced annually-primarily in China, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Poland (1)-to sustain the demand from the international fur industry (2, 3). In June, the Netherlands adopted a proposal to ban mink farming by the end of 2020 instead of phasing out the industry through 2024 (1). The Netherlands' decision was a step toward better protections for humans, animals, and the environment. China, Denmark, and Poland should support and extend the immediate and complete ban of mink production.Minks harbor zoonotic infectious diseases such as leptospirosis, which leads to kidney failure in humans (4), and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV -2). COVID-19 has been found in minks in the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, and the United States (5, 6). In October, the spread of COVID-19 in Danish mink farms spun out of control, threatening the country's disease control and public health and resulting in the culling of millions of minks (7). Similar cases are likely in China, which harbors a multispecies fur industry (8). A recent study of Edited by Jennifer SillsThe mink industry is associated with human disease, animal cruelty, and environmental pollution.

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