PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Yes. A miso sample fermented aboard the International Space Station for 30 days in 2020 and returned to Earth recognizable as miso. Researchers also found differences in its microbes, aroma compounds, color and sensory profile compared with two Earth-made samples. Because the experiment used just one batch at each location, however, it shows that this process worked once—not that microgravity caused the differences or that all food can be fermented safely in space.
How the ISS miso experiment worked
A small sample of miso-to-be launched in early March 2020 and spent 30 days fermenting aboard the ISS. The flight was part of SpaceX CRS-20. Researchers compared the returned sample with two ground controls: one fermented in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and another in Copenhagen, Denmark. MIT’s Space Exploration Initiative describes the project as an effort to learn whether fermentation could be done in space and how the environment might affect microbes and flavor.
Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning made with soybeans, salt and kōji, a culture involving the fungus Aspergillus oryzae. The researchers analyzed the samples using environmental measurements, shotgun metagenomics, whole-genome sequencing, untargeted metabolomics, colorimetry and sensory analysis. Their findings appeared in the peer-reviewed journal iScience in 2025 in “Food fermentation in space: Opportunities and challenges.” PubMed’s record identifies the paper.
What differed between the three samples
The study reported differences across the ISS, Cambridge and Copenhagen samples. One important context is temperature: the ISS sample fermented in a warmer environment than either Earth control.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Complete Fermentation Kit】This all-in-one fermentation kit includes four 32 oz mason jars and heavy-duty glass fermentation weights made from food-safe, lead-free, non-porous glass that never absorbs odors, flavors, or colors. The set also includes durable fermentation lids, dual-channel airlocks, and everything you need for making kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, and more. Includes 20 date-and-note tags with strings for labeling each fermentation session.
- 【Plastic Fermentation Lids, No Rust, No Silicone Wear】Designed as an alternative to metal lids, our food-safe plastic fermentation lids eliminate rust concerns while reducing stress on silicone grommets. This thoughtful design helps maintain a secure seal and extends the lifespan of every fermentation jar in the set.
- 【Ferment & Store with One Lid】Our plastic fermenting lids let you switch effortlessly from fermenting to storage. Simply remove the airlocks and insert the silicone stopper. Each jars instantly converts into a sealed mason jar, giving you a smooth ferment-to-store workflow without changing lids.
- 【Wide-Mouth Mason Jar Design】Each 32 oz fermentation jar features a wide 3.4" opening for easy filling, packing, and cleaning. Clear ml and oz markings help you measure ingredients accurately and monitor fermentation progress.
- 【Upgraded Airlock & Weight System】Our dual-channel airlocks work with the tight-sealing plastic fermentation lids to maintain a stable, low-oxygen environment. The lead-free glass fermentation weights are non-porous and food-safe, keeping vegetables fully submerged for safe, consistent, and flavorful results in every batch.
| Measure | ISS | Cambridge | Copenhagen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean fermentation temperature | 36.3 ± 1.8°C | 23.1 ± 0.9°C | 19.9 ± 0.5°C |
| Mean aroma-compound concentration | 1020 ± 410 μg/L | 332 ± 210 μg/L | 177 ± 120 μg/L |
These figures are the study authors’ reported means and variation for the samples in the 2025 paper. The authors found statistically significant temperature differences among sites. For aroma-compound concentration, the ISS-to-Copenhagen difference was significant, while the ISS-to-Cambridge comparison was not.
The paper also reported that the ISS sample had 22.6 times as much ester as the Copenhagen sample. Its pyrazine concentration was 5.8 times Copenhagen’s and 29.9 times Cambridge’s. The authors discuss the warmer temperature as one possible contributor to higher pyrazine levels, not as a proven cause.
Rank #2
- 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗔𝗟 𝗪𝗜𝗗𝗘-𝗠𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗙𝗜𝗧 - Includes 3 stainless steel venting lids and 3 fermentation weights, designed to fit wide-mouth mason jars (jars not included). The Ultimate Fermentation Kit fits 4 oz, 8 oz, 16 oz, 32 oz, and 64 oz jars with a standard 3.375-inch wide-mouth opening. Dishwasher-safe and made with 100% BPA-free materials, this fermentation kit is designed for beginners and experienced home fermenters.
- 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗚𝗨𝗧 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗦 - Fermenting veggies loads them with gut-friendly probiotics to support the health of you and your family. Fermented foods are a great way to get live, active probiotics into your gut. Get the Ultimate Fermentation Kit today to start making fermented superfoods. Click Add to Cart now!
- 𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗬 𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗡𝗢 𝗛𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗟𝗘 & 𝗡𝗢 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦 - The one-way airlock vents make safe, delicious ferments without needing to burp the jars. The mess free design of The Ultimate Fermentation Kit works great from day 1 all the way to day 30+. Simple and maintenance-free fermentation. It's perfect for sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, and more. Try it today!
- 𝗗𝗢𝗡'𝗧 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗟 𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦, 𝗗𝗢𝗡'𝗧 𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗩𝗘𝗚𝗚𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗟𝗢𝗔𝗧 - Floating vegetables are the #1 cause of mushy, moldy, wasted ferments. Our stainless steel fermenting springs push down veggies with consistent pressure and re-adjust their position as cabbage moves during the fermentation. Keep your ferments safe and delicious with the Ultimate Fermentation Kit. Get the Ultimate Fermentation Kit Today.
- 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗚𝗨𝗜𝗗𝗘 & 𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗬 - The Ultimate Fermentation Kit comes with beginner recipes for kraut, kimchi, and pickles, and how to tell healthy ferments from batches to toss. We offer our Ultimate Lifetime Warranty and Money-Back Guarantee. If you are not satisfied for any reason or want to replace any broken part, just message our customer support team, and we will help you. Try the Ultimate Fermentation Kit risk-free today.
Did the space miso taste different?
The researchers reported differences in flavor chemistry and sensory profile, alongside differences in microbial composition and color. Their combined interpretation was that the ISS miso fermented faster, possibly because it was warmer; travel disturbance or other factors may also have contributed. The study’s results support saying these samples differed, but not attributing every difference to a single environmental condition.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
What this experiment can—and cannot—show
The key result is feasibility: this sample fermented aboard the ISS for 30 days and was recognizable as miso in the study’s analysis. It is not a controlled test that isolates microgravity. The three locations differed in multiple conditions, and there was only one batch per site, with no replicate batches. Differences between the two Earth controls also show why location and batch variation matter.
Rank #3
- PREMIUM STARTER KIT FOR THE HOME FERMENTER: Includes all the tools needed to convert a regular (small) mouth mason jar into a fermenting machine! Kits turn 4 jars into fermenters for smaller batches for veggies & fermented garlic, salsa & hot sauces!
- 9 PC KIT INCLUDES: 4 Pickle Pipe Airlock Tops, 4 Pickle Pebble Infinity Glass Weights, 1 Acacia Pickle Packer Vegetable Tamper and Bonus Printed Recipe Book. Become a probiotic vegetables maker and pickling pro with the best supplies and equipment from the #1 source.
- MAKE YOUR OWN DELICIOUS PROBIOTIC SUPERFOODS: Ferment vegetables (carrots, pickles & radishes etc.) in a brine or use your acacia wood pounder to pack tasty dry salted ferments like sauerkraut and kimchi. Good stuff for your tummy and immune system!
- EASY TO USE AND MAINTENANCE FREE: Simply fill jars with veggies and salt or brine, apply Pickle Pebble weights & waterless self burping airlock lid. No need to monitor or burp your jars, your Pickle Pipe airlocks vent gas without letting oxygen in.
- FROM THE MASON JAR ACCESSORIES EXPERTS: Making your own fermented foods is fun and easy when you trust the Masontops name. Step-by-step instructions with beautiful pictures on how to easily make probiotic superfoods at home are included.
- Supported: this particular miso process produced a recognizable fermented sample during an ISS stay.
- Not established: that microgravity or radiation alone caused the measured differences.
- Not established: that all foods can be fermented safely in space or that the findings apply to other recipes and processes.
- Not established: that the experimental ISS sample is a consumer product.
The paper describes the sample as safe, but that finding should not be read as a general food-safety guarantee for space fermentation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why study fermentation for space missions?
Long-duration missions must manage food within constrained supply chains and limited resources. MIT’s project presents fermentation as a possible way to develop flavorful food systems for space habitats. It also describes an enclosed Space Fermentation Chamber as under development and discusses potential uses such as managing food waste and preserving limited fresh ingredients. These are project goals and possible future applications, not outcomes demonstrated by the miso experiment.
Rank #4
- Complete Fermentation Jar Kit---This all-in-one fermentation kit includes four 32 oz mason jars and heavy-duty glass fermentation weights made from food-safe, lead-free, non-porous glass that never absorbs odors, flavors, or colors. The set also includes 4 durable fermentation lids, 4 dual-channel airlocks,4 silicone grommets,4 silicone gaskets. A complete fermenting kit for making sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, hot sauce, and other fermented foods at home.
- Wide-Mouth Mason Jar Design---Each 32 oz fermentation jar features a wide 3.4" opening for easy filling, packing, and cleaning. Clear ml and oz markings help you measure ingredients accurately and monitor fermentation progress.No more guesswork - get consistent, high-quality results every time.
- Ferment & Store with One Lid---The included 304 stainless steel fermentation lids are equipped with silicone grommets for a secure seal. After fermentation is complete, simply remove the airlock and seal the opening with the provided grommet .Each jars instantly converts into a sealed mason jar, giving you a smooth ferment-to-store workflow without changing lids.
- Glass Weights Help Keep Ferments Fully Submerged---The included glass fermentation weights help hold vegetables below the brine, which is essential for a cleaner, more reliable fermentation environment when making sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, and more.
- Versatile Applications--- This pickles fermentation kit contains all essential components for home fermentation.Suitable for preparing kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, and other fermented foods, it offers a practical solution for health-conscious individuals and makes an excellent gift for enthusiasts of homemade fermented products.
The 2025 paper likewise raises the possibility of developing more flavorful and nourishing foods for long missions, while calling for further work spanning science, health, technology and society. For now, the ISS miso is best understood as an early experiment showing that fermentation can happen in orbit—and raising questions for larger studies.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- MASONTOPS SINGLE MASON JAR FERMENTATION KIT: Includes all the tools needed to turn your ordinary regular mouth mason jar into a fermenting machine! This home fermentation kit lets you make nutritious homemade sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, hot sauce and more!
- 4 PC BALL FERMENTING KIT INCLUDES: Pickle Pipe Airlock Top, Tough Band Plastic Screw Band, Pickle Pebble Glass Fermentation Weight & Glass Wide Mouth Mason Jar (24oz). Try out our pickling jars and become a probiotic expert with the best supplies.
- MAKE YOUR OWN DELICIOUS PROBIOTIC SUPERFOODS: Ferment vegetables like sauerkraut, kimchi, hot sauce and more with this mason jar fermentation kit. All with your lacto fermentation kit. Good stuff for your tummy and immune system!
- EASY TO USE AND MAINTENANCE FREE: Fill jars with veggies and salt or brine, add sauerkraut weights & mason jar airlock fermenting lids. No need to monitor or burp your jars, your Pickle Pipe airlock for fermenting vents gas without letting oxygen in. Your easy fermenter fermentation kit!
- FROM THE MASON JAR ACCESSORIES EXPERTS: Making your own fermented foods is fun and easy when you trust the Masontops name. Step-by-step instructions with beautiful pictures on how to easily make probiotic superfoods at home with this ball fermentation kit are included.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
