Secure World Foundation and the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory are co-hosting a two-event series on the socioeconomic benefits of conducting research and development onboard the ISS. The series will highlight important work being done on the ISS that benefits global efforts such as the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. This first event will take place in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a second event to be hosted in Washington, D.C. Dr. Kaplan at Pheronym is honored to be invited to talk about how utilizing the ISS has been instrumental to Pheronym’s mission in contributing towards agriculture on earth and feeding the world. Come and talk to… Read More
Continue ReadingWhy this company sent worms into space on a SpaceX capsule that’s returning to Earth
By Alex Soderstrom – Jan 3, 2020, 4:49pm EST The capsule, which launched from Florida’s Space Coast, will splash down next week in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Long Beach, California. Pheronym uses pheromones to control microscopic roundworms for agricultural purposes. What do you think about the research happening on the International Space Station? Keep reading
Continue ReadingPheronym sends Nematodes to Space
By LEAH ZITTER December 9, 2019 at Food and Farming Pheronym, a bio-ag-tech pest control company, sent a New Year’s gift to three Americans, two Russians and one Italian stranded at the International Space Station (ISS): a cargo load of tiny worms. These roundworms, formally called nematodes, Keep Reading
Continue ReadingThe return of AstroNematode is delayed until Tuesday, Jan. 7
Due to a forecast of bad weather in the splashdown zone, the return of the SpaceX Dragon cargo ship is delayed until Tuesday, Jan. 7. Release of Dragon from Canadarm2 is scheduled for 5:03 a.m. EST. NASA TV coverage will begin at 4:45 a.m. Splashdown is scheduled for 10:47 a.m. The splashdown will not air on NASA TV.
Continue ReadingJust got my AstroNematode Shirt!
I just got my AstroNematode T-Shirt. You can get your own AstroNematode Women’s Favorite T at the AstroNematode Shop. Don’t want a t-shirt? You can also get hoodies!
Continue ReadingNew Payloads From ISS National Lab Implementation Partner NanoRacks Launch to the ISS
December 16, 2019, by ISS360: THE ISS NATIONAL LAB BLOG When SpaceX’s 19th commercial resupply services mission launched to the International Space Station (ISS) earlier this month (December 2019), it carried close to 5,700 pounds of research and supplies to the orbiting laboratory. Among this cargo were several payloads from investigators working with ISS U.S. National Laboratory Implementation Partner NanoRacks. These ISS National Lab-sponsored payloads including An experiment from biotechnology startup Pheronym in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture studying microscopic worms that kill crop-harming insects Read more about these payloads in this recent Space Newsfeed article. To join the mission contact schiller@pheronym.com or support the project visit the AstroNematode shop.
Continue ReadingART+SCIENCE: SpaceX CRS19 at Cosmic Perspective
By Cosmic Perspective: The First Agricultural Biocontrol Experiment in Space. We got to know the passionate researchers at Pheronym and the USDA, who never imagined they’d be doing their agriculture research in space — the very first of its kind. This fascinating experiment aims to pave the way for us to use organic pest-control in space and improve our agricultural practices on Earth. “Nematodes are little roundworms… they only attack insects, so they’re natural biopesticides. We use them in organic approaches in lieu of chemical pesticides so they’re safe to the environment…” Interview with Dr. Kaplan at Pheronym and Dr. Shapiro-Ilan at USDA, Listen to Audio
Continue ReadingNASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 12 December 2019
NanoRacks Module-85: The crew transferred the Module-85 tubes (3) and inserted them into cold stowage. Microgravity Effect on Entomopathogenic Nematodes’ Ability to Find and Kill Insects (Module-85 Pheronym) tests the effects of microgravity on the movement and infection behavior of beneficial nematodes, which are used to control agricultural insect pests. The research looks at whether these nematodes can navigate through soil, infect insects and reproduce in space. It also looks at whether their symbiotic bacteria function normally in microgravity and has any effects on insect host physiology. Keep reading SpaceRef
Continue ReadingSpaceX Delivers ‘Mighty Mice,’ Pest-Killing Worms and a Smart Robot to International Space Station
(CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.) December 8, 2019 — SpaceX made an early holiday delivery to the International Space Station on Sunday, bringing muscle-bound “mighty mice,” pest-killing worms and a smart, empathetic robot. ‘ There also are 120,000 roundworms, or nematodes of a beneficial variety, Keep reading This story is featured at The Time, The Washington Post, Phys. org, The Japan Times, Daily Mail (UK), Fox Business, CNBC.
Continue ReadingOn the Hunt: Studying Insect-Killing Worms in Space
ISS BLOG 360: December 10, 2019 By Anne Wainscott-Sargent Experiments Hope to Bolster Nematodes’ Killer Instincts to Protect Crops At a Glance An ISS National Lab investigation from biotechnology startup Pheronym, in collaboration with the USDA, will examine how microgravity affects beneficial nematodes—tiny worms with bacteria in their gut that kill crop-harming insects. A recent study found nematodes exposed to Pheronym’s patented pheromone extract were 28 percent to 78 percent more effective in controlling pecan weevils and black soldier flies than nonexposed nematodes. Improving the pheromone’s efficacy could give growers a better tool to protect crops while reducing broad-spectrum chemical insecticide use. In addition to benefitting crops on Earth, these… Read More
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