Slashdot Mirror
"Water Bears" First Animals to Survive Trip Into Space Naked
Adam Korbitz writes "New Scientist and Science Daily are reporting the results of an intriguing experiment in which scientists launched tardigrades or 'water bears' — tiny invertebrates about one millimeter long — into space onboard the European Space Agency's FOTON-M3 spacecraft. After 10 days in the vacuum of space, the satellite returned to Earth and the tardigrades were recovered. The tardigrades survived the vacuum just fine, but exposure to the Sun's ultraviolet radiation proved deadly for most of the water bears. However, some did survive. The tardigrades are the first animals to have survived such an experiment, a feat previously achieved only by lichens and bacteria."
The next animals to undergo the experiment: First Posters.
Of the four water bears to survive the radiation in space, one is now invisible, one is really stretchy, one is on fire, and one is made of rocks.
Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
Don't you realize that, by exposing them to such strenuous conditions that kill off the weak, you are only working to select a superbreed of tardigrades? I'm sure all that radiation have caused mutations to make them stronger, bigger, with voracious appetites and mind-control powers.
Pretty soon they'll be strong enough to challenge us! I say we launch a preemptive strike to eliminate all tardigrades immediately!
[I'm not actually crazy, this is all tongue-in-cheek alarmism, which is all the rage these days]
Aquatic hairy gay men?
I for one welcome our new vacuum-resistant, microscopic, mutated overlords.
Sending bears into space, exposing them to radiation, making them stronger?!?! ARE YOU INSANE?!?!?
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
It was a scary bear.
Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
This topic uses a poor choice of source material to discuss the subject. The article does not go into detail about the metabolic affects of exposure for the water bears, or the fundamental changes that were observed after their return to the lab. There were significant fundamental reactions the sample set had to exposure to space which was observable immediately upon their return to Earth, as detailed in other articles on the subject.
Scientists were surprised to observe the exterior of several of the water bears to be covered by a mineral substance and the creatures appeared to demonstrate increased resillence realitive to their size and mass. Several of the other specimens demonstrated exothermic reactions when exposed to air, a reaction that was described as actually burning the air around them. Other members of the specimen set were observed stretching to lengths beyond their normal length / width, in order of several magnigtudes, without any negative biological affects. Others developed a transparent biology when observed under an electron microscope, which appearently is not permanent in nature.
Attempts to observe the creatures in detail were complicated by some sort of field irradiating the slide, which was thought to possibly be magnetic.
M
I propose they try it with lawyers next. I can provide a short list if they want.
What if American space program would have employed not only Dr. Wernher von Braun, but also Dr. Mengele, who then would be the first vertebrate sent to space?
I do not believe in karma. "Funny"=-6. Do good and forbid evil. Yours, Oft-Offtopic Flamebaiting Troll.
I for one am upset and disappointed that the water bears did not gruesomely bulge to engorged proportions and then loudly(physics be damned) and spectacularly explode in a sanguineous shower of viscera, all while screaming "QUAAAIDD!!!". I think the experimenters could have done better.
May the Maths Be with you!
I find it detestable that we are doing these kinds of experiments on water bears!
We need to protest... I will start a campaign!
--Nuke the Whales--
Did these things
- Create an army of the undead
- Trigger a plague
- Develop intelligence and a taste for human flesh?
All kidding aside, it might reinforce the theory of panspermia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panspermia
I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
So... Did any of these scientists allow themselves to get bit by any of these radioactive Water Bears?
Also, the Zerg, in a manner of speaking.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zerg#Zerg
Name...That...Autocomplete!
Interestingly, the RIAA was also a popular choice, but it was rejected on the basis that a multi-celled organism without a heart might not be alive. Some members of the public suggested it should be subjected to the "will it blend?" test to make sure.
Obligatory:
Chuck would totally own the Water Bears in the Space Survival challenge. I bet he wouldn't even tan.
For some reason I refuse to use either spell check or the spacebar properly.
I think you are very wrong indeed, if you create vacuum, bathe it with UV light and bombard it with high energy particles you would find it very hard to put a petri dish in that spot.
Personally, I would put the petri dish in first, then turn on the vacuum and radiation, saves you having to request yet another research assistent. You obviously never done paperwork.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
Dang it, don't call them "tardigrades". That's demeaning and hurtful. The appropriate term is "mentally challengedigrades" or perhaps "differently abledigrades".
--riney