• A small but mighty piece of lab equipment, about the size of a cellphone, has arrived at the International Space Station after launching with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission. • NASA aims to use the off-the-shelf device, called a microplate reader, to conduct vital biological research in space and get real-time access to data.

Article Summaries:

  • A compact, cellphone‑sized microplate reader has landed on the International Space Station aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew‑12 mission. The off‑the‑shelf device will enable real‑time biological experiments in microgravity, allowing scientists to monitor cellular responses and biochemical assays directly aboard the ISS. By providing immediate data access, the reader is expected to streamline space‑based research and accelerate discoveries in life‑science studies. NASA plans to use the instrument to conduct a range of experiments, potentially transforming how biological research is performed in orbit.

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