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Swiss Scientists Discover DNA Remains Active After Space Journey and Re-entry
Zothecula writes: It may sound like the first chapter of a Quatermass thriller, but scientists from the University of Zurich have discovered that DNA can survive not only a flight through space, but also re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere and still remain active. The findings are based on suborbital rocket flights and could have considerable impact on questions about the origins of life on Earth and the problems of terrestrial space probes contaminating other planets.
Finally, after 50+ years of sending astronauts into space, proof that when they return, they will still have their DNA. Send the news to John Glen!
It may have been sterilized but a seagull can just fly over and poop on it.
As the rocket speeds out the atmosphere, it must initially flatten lots of bugs against itself.
How did anyone think we could send anything into space that wasn't crawling with earth-bacteria and other stuff, exactly?
I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
The billions of dollars spent on the space program should be spent feeding starving people and cleaning up the environment.
Firstly, prove to me that any money diverted from the space program will be 100% spend on your items AND prove that spending this money improves the condition for the entire human race, and we'll consider it.
Historically, we never divert to humanitarian aid at 100%, plus most times when money is earmarked for such programs, the money is siphoned off to feed pork-barrel local constituency programs.
Secondly, why can't the two programs coexist ? The paltry percentages of the US GDP spent on space exploration won't make a difference if the will to do such work isn't already there.
And finally, while I agree entirely that we need to be better stewards of this planet, it does not preclude us for investigation other locations, whether for scientific curiosity or for future human occupation.
If only we could fall into a woman's arms without falling into her hands
So what are you doing on Slashdot then? How can you spend time on this while people are starving?
Shouldn't you be feeding people?