Better sequencing tech may help keep planets clean

Space researchers have long recognized the importance of preventing microbial stowaways. Alien microbes brought back to Earth could be dangerous. But the main worry is that Earth microbes could spoil the potential discovery of extraterrestrial life. Here, Woo discusses the new genomic-sequencing technology that's empowering researchers to study microbes faster and better than ever before. Researchers are now exploiting these same tools to bolster planetary protection efforts.