Prompt's TechBlog
Worms survive space crash
04 January 2006
Posted by Sean McManus
According to CNET News, some worms that were taken on the doomed Columbia space shuttle mission survived the shuttle's subsequent disintegration. The Columbia space craft disintegrated over Texas in 2003, nearly 40 miles up.
Aluminium canisters containing roughly 1mm long soil roundworms were taken on the shuttle so the creatures could be studied in space. Live worms were discovered in four of the five recovered canisters.
Fascinating stuff - it suggests that tiny lifeforms can survive a relatively unprotected re-entry. It suggests the possibility that alien creatures inside meteorites might be able to survive re-entry. Perhaps the first earthling to land on Mars will be Laika the Worm.
Aluminium canisters containing roughly 1mm long soil roundworms were taken on the shuttle so the creatures could be studied in space. Live worms were discovered in four of the five recovered canisters.
Fascinating stuff - it suggests that tiny lifeforms can survive a relatively unprotected re-entry. It suggests the possibility that alien creatures inside meteorites might be able to survive re-entry. Perhaps the first earthling to land on Mars will be Laika the Worm.
# posted by Sean McManus at 12:37 PM 
Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home