The International Space Station is growing mould, inside and outside
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Re: The International Space Station is growing mould, inside and outside
#2Is this the first case of extraterrestrial life?
Re: The International Space Station is growing mould, inside and outside
#3"But the spores may not be all bad though. Cortesao's research is looking for ways the space-growing fungi may help us long-term, investigating their capacity to grow in less than ideal conditions. The study's aim is to harness the hardy microbes as biological factories to create materials astronauts may use on longer missions, such as antibiotics and vitamins."
I wouldn't mind tasting some space-alcohol.
Re: The International Space Station is growing mould, inside and outside
#4"The research touches on this, and it warns astronauts to follow recommended planetary protection protocols designed to prevent visiting spacecraft from contaminating other planets and moons in our solar system with microorganisms from Earth. The study suggests that, because of the risk of contamination, these fungal spores may need to be considered a more serious threat."
This makes me wonder if we've accidentally already started terraforming Mars.
Re: The International Space Station is growing mould, inside and outside
#5"But the spores may not be all bad though. Cortesao's research is looking for ways the space-growing fungi may help us long-term, investigating their capacity to grow in less than ideal conditions. The study's aim is to harness the hardy microbes as biological factories to create materials astronauts may use on longer missions, such as antibiotics and vitamins." I wouldn't mind tasting some space-alcohol.
And not that synthohol garbage they make in the replicators!
Re: The International Space Station is growing mould, inside and outside
#6"But the spores may not be all bad though. Cortesao's research is looking for ways the space-growing fungi may help us long-term, investigating their capacity to grow in less than ideal conditions. The study's aim is to harness the hardy microbes as biological factories to create materials astronauts may use on longer missions, such as antibiotics and vitamins." I wouldn't mind tasting some space-alcohol.
You're in luck! There's a company that makes beer with yeast that's been in space [0].
Re: The International Space Station is growing mould, inside and outside
#7"The research touches on this, and it warns astronauts to follow recommended planetary protection protocols designed to prevent visiting spacecraft from contaminating other planets and moons in our solar system with microorganisms from Earth. The study suggests that, because of the risk of contamination, these fungal spores may need to be considered a more serious threat." This makes me wonder if we've accidentally a…
Things already go through decontamination.
Re: The International Space Station is growing mould, inside and outside
#8"The research touches on this, and it warns astronauts to follow recommended planetary protection protocols designed to prevent visiting spacecraft from contaminating other planets and moons in our solar system with microorganisms from Earth. The study suggests that, because of the risk of contamination, these fungal spores may need to be considered a more serious threat." This makes me wonder if we've accidentally a…
Things already go through decontamination.
but decontamination is always relative, otherwise you will destroy the thing you are "decontaminating".
Re: The International Space Station is growing mould, inside and outside
#9"The research touches on this, and it warns astronauts to follow recommended planetary protection protocols designed to prevent visiting spacecraft from contaminating other planets and moons in our solar system with microorganisms from Earth. The study suggests that, because of the risk of contamination, these fungal spores may need to be considered a more serious threat." This makes me wonder if we've accidentally a…
Things already go through decontamination.
Things already survive decontamination.
Re: The International Space Station is growing mould, inside and outside
#10And I thought I had it bad in my kitchen.
In any case I'm really wondering how it grows outside, which the article didn't really explain. It's one thing for the spores to survive in vacuum, another altogether for it to actually grow in vacuum. Or did I misunderstand something?