What’s Microfluidics?

and why is it useful in space?

The International Space Station (ISS) is a modern marvel. Only 400 km above our heads, an orbiting laboratory provides researchers with unique features of low-Earth orbit: long-duration microgravity. Many physical and chemical processes change when you remove gravity. For example, surface tension and capillary forces dominate fluid behaviour in microgravity that are otherwise drowned out by gravity on Earth.

Microfluidics is the study of manipulating fluids at the micrometre scale, relying on surface tension, capillary forces and pressure-driven fluidic movement to perform experiments, mix substances and even analyze samples in innovative ways — making it an ideal way to handle liquids in space.

Think of it as a super-compact laboratory where multiple tests can be done using just a tiny amount of liquid, all in the palm of your hand (lab-on-a-chip).