# Bacteria's space survival secret: a high energy bill

> Scientists found bacteria's spore survival in hospitals and space costs too much energy to keep.
- Title: Bacteria's space survival secret: a high energy bill
- Summary: Scientists found bacteria's spore survival in hospitals and space costs too much energy to keep. Spores need external food to revive after dormancy, creating…
- Keywords: bacillus subtilis, sporulation, atp, germination, outgrowth, hospital infections, clostridioides difficile, anthrax, botulism, dormancy, microbiology, energy accounting
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/hibernating-bacteria-can-invade-hospitals-and-survive-outer-space-but-their-high-energy-bill-is-a-weakness-that-scientists-can-strike-289354
- Author: Canan Karakoç
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bacillus subtilis, sporulation, atp, germination, outgrowth, hospital infections, clostridioides difficile, anthrax, botulism, dormancy, microbiology, energy accounting
## Spores survive space and hospitals
Bacillus subtilis spores can endure boiling, radiation, and space for years without dying.
## Spores last 3 billion years
Bacteria have used spore-forming for nearly 3 billion years in soil environments.
## Spores vanish in labs
Bacteria lose spore-making ability when grown in nutrient-rich lab conditions.
## Energy cost of spores
Forming a spore costs nearly 10 billion ATP molecules, far more than swimming.
## Spores need external food
Spores require outside food to revive after dormancy, otherwise they die.
## Spore revival stages
Spores first rehydrate and shed armor in 15 minutes before rebuilding for hours.
## Hospital infections
Clostridioides difficile spores spread infections in hospitals and nursing homes.
## Spore energy bottleneck
88% of revival energy is used during outgrowth, the most vulnerable stage.
## Energy accounting
Scientists calculated spore formation costs more energy than active growth in bacteria.
## Spore survival in space
NASA left Bacillus spores on a satellite for six years, with some surviving.
## Key takeaway

Spores need external food to revive after dormancy, creating a weak spot for infection control.