Suspensions that build materials. Meir set up an investigation called Colloidal Solids, which studies soft materials made from tiny particles suspended in water. In microgravity, these particles interact and assemble into structures differently than on Earth. Understanding those interactions could help scientists fine-tune the texture, stability, and performance of materials used for growing plants, 3D printing, and producing pharmaceuticals.

Tracking dangerous microbes. Hathaway worked with equipment for GEARS (Genomic Enumeration of Antibiotic Resistance in Space), testing for antibiotic-resistant bacteria aboard the station. Some bacteria can withstand antibiotics, starvation, and disinfection — a particular concern in closed environments like spacecraft. Sequencing DNA in microgravity can reveal how resilient microbes adapt to space, helping scientists develop countermeasures for exploration missions while also supporting efforts to combat antibiotic resistance on Earth.

Fresh supplies and new instruments. During the crew's stay, Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL spacecraft delivered fresh food — including tomatoes, oranges, peppers, and an onion that floated through the station — along with new research projects. Among them: an instrument that could improve space-weather modeling and a project that could help protect gut-microbiome stability on future exploration missions.

Cartilage grown in orbit. Meir worked in the Life Sciences Glovebox on BEM-CARTS, a study of how engineered cartilage tissue develops in microgravity. The research may help scientists produce medical implants that more closely resemble natural cartilage. For millions of people with cartilage injuries, space-grown tissue could offer treatments that avoid transplanting cartilage from elsewhere in the body.

Printing metal parts in orbit. Adenot installed the Metal 3D Printer aboard the station. Several small metal parts have already been printed in microgravity and returned to Earth, where engineers compare their quality against parts made on the ground. On-demand manufacturing could let future crews make or replace what they need far from home, reducing reliance on spare parts and resupply flights.

IV fluid on demand. Adenot also tested IVGEN Mini, a system for producing intravenous fluid in microgravity. Commercial IV fluids expire after about 16 months, and stocking them for long missions adds weight and takes up storage space. The system could provide a critical medical resource when resupply is limited, and could improve access in remote areas or emergencies on Earth.

Stem cells and bone marrow. Hathaway supported two cell-based investigations. One, InSPA-StemCellEX-H2, tests whether microgravity can help produce larger numbers of clinical-grade stem cells that retain their ability to transform into other cell types; such cells could help rebuild blood and immune systems after chemotherapy, advancing care for leukemia and other blood diseases. The other, 3D Bone Marrow Analog, uses bone marrow cells and structures that mimic marrow to study how microgravity affects bone and muscle, with some samples exposed to vibrations that simulate exercise. Tracking changes in these cells could reveal ways to combat bone and muscle loss in spaceflight and support bone health on Earth.

These results remain preliminary in many cases — several investigations depend on samples and hardware that must return to Earth for analysis before firm conclusions emerge. But the crew's work illustrates why the station remains busy in its third decade: a unique laboratory where medicine, materials, and fundamental physics all benefit from dropping the pull of gravity.