Space Lichens

moon_monkey writes "According to a report lichens - a composite of algae and fungi - can survive in space for up to two weeks. An experiment carried out by the European Space Agency saw two species of lichen carried into orbit and then exposed to the vacuum of space for nearly 15 days. These are the most complex form of life now known to have survived prolonged exposure to space. The experiment adds weight to the theory of panspermia - that life could somehow be transported between planets."

Comments

Re:They needed space to test a vacuum?

[Perfesser Einstein]

They needed space test the gullibility of government agencies to fund specious, unnecessary, and expen$ive "experiments". You rightly point out that any of these experiments, probably even the weightless one, could be cheaply done right here on boring old planet Earth. Think of all of the other scientific and educational projects that could have been explored with that money.