How An Andromeda Strain Might be Strained

An anonymous reader writes "For the world-record holder as the longest surviving bacteria in space [6 years, Bacillus subtillis], it turns out that among the multitude of dangers [cold, vacuum, UV, lack of nutrients, etc.] the greatest stress of all is intense ultraviolet radiation. In the next two years, new space station experiments are slated to test the panspermia hypothesis--also popularized in Robert Zubrin's "Entering Space", but dating back at least 150 years in the scientific literature. Recent balloon experiments, have rekindled alot of the controversy, but NASA Ames scientist, Rocco Mancinelli, concludes: "In my opinion, for a spore, it's quite likely.""

Comments

Question...

[natron 2.0]

So does this mean that there could be millions of unidentified bacteria in space waiting to infect our planet. Sounds like a bad B movie...

I don't advise this type of post

[ekrout]

For the world-record holder as the longest surviving bacteria in space, it turns out that among the multitude of dangers [cold, vacuum, UV, lack of nutrients, etc.] the greatest stress of all is intense ultraviolet radiation.

You know, I'm as much an advocate of information sharing as the next guy, but this kind of disclosure is just not professional, people.

I honestly feel that this type of discourse on an open Web forum such as this one is not advantageous to society as a whole. Why? Well, you just instructed the next generation of criminals how to effectively torture their victims. Don't believe me? Re-read the quote!

For the world-record holder as the longest surviving bacteria in space, it turns out that among the multitude of dangers [cold, vacuum, UV, lack of nutrients, etc.] the greatest stress of all is intense ultraviolet radiation.

I can see the headline on the local paper already: "Local Kitten Faces Grim Outlook After UV Torture".

As if that doesn't sound disheartening enough, just replace "kitten" with "teenager". The Anarchist's Cookbook was disgusting enough, and I honestly have hatred for anyone who reads and even mildly ponders using those recipes for disaster.

But I never...never...thought that the professional, for-pay editors here at Slashdot, the gentleman down in the trenches day in and day out, bringing us the latest from the front lines of Open Source vs. Microsoft, would publish benchmarks on how to most effectively torture bacteria or any other living creature.

As far as I'm concerned, God's creatures are in my jurisdiction, and if you mess with any living thing in a negative manner, you will face my music.

Thank you for hearing me out. I apologize for being perhaps a bit too vocal on the matter, but it's an issue of high concern for me.

Thanks again.

Re:Hostile space environment

[Cap'n enigma]

You have got it backwards. It is the French that hate everyone else. No one hates the French because no one gives a shit about the French.