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Tiny Worms Survive Shuttle Crash

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the not-so-terminal-velocity dept.

John H. Doe writes "According to CNet, tiny worms kept in special aluminum canisters aboard the space shuttle Columbia (which broke apart in the atmosphere back in Feb. 1, 2003) survived their fall to earth. The small (about 1mm long) soil roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans was found alive in four or five of the recovered canisters, after an impact 2,295 times the force of Earth's gravity."

6 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. sooo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    now your saying we're descendent from a bunch of half-inch alien worms? scuttlemonkey i hate you

  2. Tiny Worms Survive Shuttle Crash! by cffrost · · Score: 4, Funny


    *Whew!* What a relief!

    That mission wasn't such a disaster afterall!

    --
    Thank you, Edward Snowden.

    "Arguments from authority are worthless." —Carl Sagan
  3. Four or five? by Pretor · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is it to much to ask of our researchers that they manage to count to at least 5?

    When they found the canisters did they count like a child? What comes first? One. And then? Two. And then? Three. And then? Four or five, I'm not sure.

    1. Re:Four or five? by thegarbageman · · Score: 4, Funny

      Wouldn't they be both alive *and* dead? Schroedinger's Worm?

      --
      "I propose we leave math to the machines and go play outside." - Calvin
  4. Re:Whuh? by baadger · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe they could evolve on the rock they hit us with...i mean that hit's us?

    I for one welcome our new rock steering wormy overlords.

  5. Wait a minute by HeWhoRoams · · Score: 2, Funny

    Last time I played Worms World party my worms died after falling about 3 inches! You're telling me these worms survived a fall from space? Now thats a cheat code.
    Get your gear to commemorate this great tragedy here https://secure.team17.com/