SMRTR Science & EngineeringJun 2, 2026Interesting Engineering

Space laundry solved: Cold plasma tech kills bacteria on astronaut clothing

SMRTR summary

Scientists have developed a cold plasma device that kills bacteria on astronaut clothing without using water — a major step for long-duration space missions. The compact tool ionizes helium, air, and water vapor to create reactive oxygen that destroys microbes, reducing bacterial colonies on cotton by over 75% in lab tests. Future versions could work like a washing machine or sterilize entire habitats on the Moon or Mars.

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