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Some bacteria are about to get their first ticket to space - and they’re bringing colour with them. The Pigmented Space Pioneers project is turning these microbes into living textile designers, creating fabrics that are not just beautiful, but smart enough to warn astronauts when radiation levels get too high.

The idea is simple, but brilliant: certain bacteria naturally produce pigments to survive environmental stress. Scientists and fashion designers at the University of Glasgow are harnessing these microbes to dye fabrics. As the bacteria respond to radiation, the colour of the fabric shifts. On Earth or in orbit, the change is a clear signal - no electronics, no batteries, just your eyes.

Why go to space? Outside Earth’s protective atmosphere, astronauts face radiation levels far beyond what humans normally encounter. Traditional dosimeters measure exposure, but a fabric that changes colour is immediate, intuitive, and wearable. It could also cover sensitive equipment or alert space crews at a glance.

The team has worked with six bacteria strains that produce vivid reds, yellows, pinks, blues, and oranges. Using a mix of 3D printing and micro-injection techniques, the microbes are embedded in precise patterns. Once the bacteria complete their work, they leave behind a permanent, functional dye.

“This is a fabric that speaks both visually and scientifically,” says fashion designer Katie Tubbing, collaborating on the project. “It’s a unique fusion of art and science: eye-catching patterns that also communicate critical information.”

The bacteria respond to radiation in a way humans can’t: pigment fades as exposure increases. “Radiation damages human DNA, but in bacteria, it simply dulls the colour,” explains project lead Dr. Gilles Bailet. “We can use that as an unmistakable early-warning system, readable without tech, just by looking.”

Earthly applications abound: radiation-sensitive scrubs for medical imaging staff, sunlight-monitoring apparel to reduce skin cancer risks, and even more sustainable textile dyeing methods. Many of the bacteria are everyday strains. Serratia marcescens, for instance, often grows unnoticed in household sinks, but in this project, it becomes a vibrant tool for innovation.

The next frontier? Space. Partnering with the Edinburgh-based startup Spinning Around, the team plans to send their first pigmented fabric into orbit aboard the SpinnyONE satellite in February 2026, turning textile science into a cosmic experiment.

This is not just textile innovation; it’s fashion with a function - proof that the future of fabrics is alive, smart, and ready to reach for the stars.