Experiments in the Columbus Laboratory

Biolab

The rack is a multifunctional biological bench for experiments with plants, small animals or microorganisms.

The heart of the facility consists of two centrifuges that are loaded with sample containers. Through the centrifuges, samples can be supplied with oxygen, carbon dioxide or light – everything biological samples need to grow. Different gravity levels can be simulated through the centrifuges – from “0g” to “2g”, which is twice the Earth’s gravity. A tiny robotic arm allows samples to be taken automatically from the containers and analyzed in a microscope and spectrometer – fully automated and remote-controlled from the ground.

Biolab is an attempt to study plant growth: Do seeds that germinate align themselves with the earth’s gravity lines – and what happens when these are weaker or disappear entirely?