Colorado Researchers Advance Space Science and Health

University of Colorado Boulder teams work on moon dust protection and cell research to benefit astronauts and patients on Earth

Mar. 19, 2026 at 5:10am

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Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder are tackling two important projects - developing technology to protect astronauts from hazardous moon dust, and conducting cell research in microgravity to advance medical treatments for conditions like osteoporosis and diabetes. The teams have received significant funding from NASA and other agencies to further their work, which could have major impacts for space exploration and human health.

Why it matters

As NASA prepares for the Artemis missions to return humans to the moon, understanding and mitigating the dangers of lunar dust is crucial. Meanwhile, the cell research being done in microgravity has the potential to unlock new medical breakthroughs that could improve lives on Earth. These Colorado-based efforts demonstrate the real-world benefits of space science.

The details

One team, led by researcher Xu Wang, is building a state-of-the-art "DUSTER" device to test moon dust on the upcoming Artemis IV mission. Moon dust is highly charged and abrasive, posing risks to astronauts and equipment. The other team, from BioServe Space Technologies, is studying how cells behave differently in microgravity, with the goal of developing new treatments for conditions like osteoporosis, blood cancers, arthritis, and diabetes. Their experiments have already produced promising results, including the creation of beating heart cells in space.

  • The DUSTER device is set to fly on the Artemis IV moon mission in two years.
  • BioServe Space Technologies has sent over 300 experiments into space in the last 35 years.

The players

Xu Wang

Research scientist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder, leading the development of the DUSTER moon dust testing device.

Tobias Niederwieser

Assistant research professor at BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado Boulder, overseeing the team's cell research in microgravity.

University of Colorado Boulder

A public research university located in Boulder, Colorado, home to the two research teams working on space science and health discoveries.

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What they’re saying

“Dust is one of the biggest hazards for exploration.”

— Xu Wang, Research scientist

“I cannot be happier ... I've been working on this for 20 years. I finally got to the point to fly this to the moon.”

— Xu Wang, Research scientist

“On Earth, the cells settle down to the bottom of your vessel, and in space that doesn't happen. We look at heart cells and kidney cells and bone cells and really see how they behave in microgravity.”

— Tobias Niederwieser, Assistant research professor

“It's a long time away, I think, but that's absolutely where we are heading. We already had beating heart cells in space, and I think that was the most exciting experiment ever.”

— Tobias Niederwieser, Assistant research professor

What’s next

The DUSTER device is scheduled to fly on the Artemis IV moon mission in two years, where it will help researchers better understand and mitigate the dangers of lunar dust. Meanwhile, the BioServe team will continue conducting cell research in microgravity, with the goal of developing new treatments for a variety of health conditions.

The takeaway

The work being done by these Colorado researchers demonstrates the real-world benefits of space exploration and scientific discovery. By tackling challenges like moon dust protection and leveraging the unique environment of microgravity, they are making advancements that could improve the lives of astronauts and patients on Earth.