Microbes can colonize space, produce drugs and create energy − researchers are simulating their inner workings to harness how

Genome-scale metabolic models capture the complex chemical reactions that allow cells to function. Yuri Arcurs/iStock via Getty Images Plus

After so many years learning how microbes work, researchers are now digitally recreating their inner workings to tackle challenges ranging from climate change to space colonization.

In my work as a computational biologist, I research ways to get microbes to produce more useful chemicals, such as fuels and bioplastics, that can be used in the energy, agricultural or pharmaceutical industries. Traditionally, researchers have to conduct several trial-and-error experiments on petri dishes in order to determine the optimal conditions microbes need to produce high amounts of chemicals.