Space Worms Live Long and Prosper

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Space Worms Live Long and Prosper

Posted by samzenpus on Monday July 9, 2012 @10:24AM from the tell-him-about-the-worms dept.

astroengine writes "A microscopic worm used in experiments on the space station not only seems to enjoy living in a microgravity environment, it also appears to get a lifespan boost. This intriguing discovery was made by University of Nottingham scientists who have flown experiments carrying thousands of tiny Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to low-Earth orbit over the years. It turns out that this little worm has genes that resemble human genes and of particular interest are the ones that govern muscle aging. Seven C. elegans genes usually associated with muscle aging were suppressed when the worms were exposed to a microgravity environment. Also, it appears spaceflight suppresses the accumulation of toxic proteins that normally gets stored inside aging muscle. Could this have implications for understanding how human physiology adapts to space?"

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Actually... by Nexion · 2012-07-09 10:28 · Score: 5, Interesting

It makes me wonder if I should be eating younger animals to avoid these toxins.
1. Re:Actually... by kelemvor4 · 2012-07-09 11:20 · Score: 2
  
  Try the veal. I'll be here all week.
could by j00r0m4nc3r · 2012-07-09 10:28 · Score: 4, Insightful

Could this have implications for understanding how human physiology adapts to space?

Sure, it could. Anything could.
1. Re:could by ackthpt · 2012-07-09 10:59 · Score: 2
  
  Could this have implications for understanding how human physiology adapts to space?
  Sure, it could. Anything could.
  In particular .. uh .. humans with worms.
  
  --
  
  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
2. Re:could by ravenshrike · 2012-07-09 11:53 · Score: 2
  
  Hey, certain famous sci-fi authors already knew about the life-extending properties of lower/microgravity for over 50 years. The real question is why it took real scientists so long to catch up
3. Re:could by __aaltlg1547 · 2012-07-09 14:33 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Could this have implications for understanding how human physiology adapts to space? Sure, it could. Anything could.
  Humans lose muscle tone, muscle mass, vision and bone. Do you want to live a little longer as a boneless nearsighted weakling? Oh wait this is Slashdot.
They get to live longer by ackthpt · 2012-07-09 10:28 · Score: 3, Funny

and eat more poo. Not sure that's really what I'd call much of a benefit.

--

A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Interesting by Nationless · 2012-07-09 10:48 · Score: 4, Interesting

I always wondered what kind of effect zero gravity would have on animals with certain traits;
Will spiderwebs look the same?
Does a fish swim differently in a floating body of water?
Will a bird adapt to floating without wind?
Will ants be able to place scent trails in mid air?
The list goes on.
1. Re:Interesting by White+Flame · 2012-07-09 11:02 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Will a bird adapt to floating without wind?
  From a bird's perspective, the world is their toilet. I can't see that adapting to microgravity very well.
2. Re:Interesting by mechtech256 · 2012-07-09 11:02 · Score: 2
  
  If spiders can learn how to build a web in zero gravity after a few tries (http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Space/story?id=6301339&page=1), it's safe to say that birds/fish would probably be able to navigate, at least as far as physics allows them to. Obviously things like the magnetic pathfinding of birds would be useless in space.
3. Re:Interesting by Tastecicles · 2012-07-09 11:08 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Absent gravity, spider webs are surprisingly symmetrical (a href="http://www.space.com/6142-spider-success-weightless-webs-spun-space.html">Linky).
  Mummichogs have been used to study motion sickness in space - they're apparently very adaptable to changing gravitational environments.
  As a matter of physics, flight relies on three things: lift, drag and thrust. In space, you don't need lift and drag (since these two factors depend on gravity), you're left with thrust. As birds don't have vector thrusting, I'd think they'd just flap around in fairly straight lines until they collide with walls.
  As for the ant question, I refer you to the recent broadcast by Kent Brockman:
  "The spacecraft has apparently been taken over - "conqured" if you will - by a master race of giant space ants. It's difficult to tell from this vantage point whether they will consume the captive earth men or merely enslave them. One thing is for certain: there is no stopping them; the ants will soon be here. And I for one welcome our new insect overlords. I'd like to remind them that as a trusted TV personality I could be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves."
  
  --
  Operation Guillotine is in effect.
4. Re:Interesting by xevioso · 2012-07-09 11:26 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  This is the difference between the word "bemute", which means to drop poo upon from a great height, and the word "bescumber", which means to spray with poo.
  One of these works in space, and one will not.
5. Re:Interesting by R3d+M3rcury · 2012-07-09 11:41 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Will spiderwebs look the same?
  No.
  
  Does a fish swim differently in a floating body of water?
  Yes, initially, though they appear to figure it out.
  
  Will a bird adapt to floating without wind?
  Tough to tell. Birds require gravity to swallow, so it'd have to be a really quick flight...
  
  Will ants be able to place scent trails in mid air?
  Not sure they've ever tried free-floating ants. They had to engineer an ant farm because the ants would have been crushed by dirt during lift-off.
  And that's just after a quick google.
6. Re:Interesting by CrimsonAvenger · 2012-07-09 11:56 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  In space, you don't need lift and drag (since these two factors depend on gravity), you're left with thrust.
  LIft is not a function of gravity, but a function of the shape and motion of the wing.
  Drag is a function of air pressure, surface area, shape and material. None of these are functions of gravity.
  Biggest problems birds should have flying in zero-G is that they're trained to fly in a 1G field just like we are, and would have to learn to do it all over in zero G.
  
  --
  
  "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
Inveterate invertebrates by macraig · 2012-07-09 10:49 · Score: 4, Interesting

Since these critters also happen to be invertebrates, they also don't suffer from bone loss in that same weightless environment. It was my understanding that muscle atrophy in astronauts was a secondary worry when compared to the severity of bone loss during extended missions without gravity.
I guess we need to engineer some "spacer" humans who have cartilage in place of bones? Spineless they might be, but I wouldn't wanna wrestle with one.
1. Re:Inveterate invertebrates by l0ungeb0y · 2012-07-09 11:56 · Score: 2
  
  A spine made of cartilage is still a spine, Albeit a more pliable and squishy spine but, a spine never the less.
  Personally, I think the logical step is discarding the v1.0 Mansuits all together in favor of worm-like bodies, with stubby "mandible" like appendages for clinging and bio-engineered exoskeletal habitation units to replace our frail Mansuits. Extending the lifespan of a more simple organism who's brain was it's only organ of any real complexity would be a far better proposition. If these easily maintainable worm-bodies could be engineered to inhabit and control biomechanical exoskeletons via a neurological interface that provided all the senses and physical capabilities we've come to take for granted (plus a whole bunch of new and improved ones we've built in) then we could see mankind extend it's lifespan indefinitely and be far better suited for conquering the vast reaches of space.
2. Re:Inveterate invertebrates by Alex+Belits · 2012-07-09 13:24 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  They should also have built-in weapons and a tendency to attack humanoids while screaming "Exterminate!".
  
  --
  Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
3. Re:Inveterate invertebrates by l0ungeb0y · 2012-07-09 13:46 · Score: 2
  
  No, that design doesn't work -- too easily defeated by stairs.