Well, it wouldn't be the most effective ways for these little guys to kill their enemies. Water bears (proper name tardigrades) were launched into space aboard the European Space Agency's Foton M3 spacecraft last year. Water bears are small (about 1.5mm) long creatures They were exposed to the vacuum and radiation of space in various combinations and, even when exposed to the vacuum and UV radiation of space, researchers found a good number of survivors."So who cares?" I hear the naysayers cry. Surviving the high radiation environment indicates their cells have a remarkable ability to repair DNA damage. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to see potential medical benefits to us in figuring out how they repair this damage. If we can isolate the genes or proteins, we could use it to reduce damage to healthy cells in cancer therapy. I could even see preventive therapies coming from this type of research in the future.
And I sure hope they figure out how these guys pull it off in case I am ever thrown out an airlock of a spaceship by my evil nemesis!
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4 comments:
Instead of Botox injections, water bear therapy for crows feet and frown lines???
I suspect that water bears push only humans out airlocks in their science fiction stories. See how we like it!
Do you know who your evil memesis is, hale-bopp, or is s/he yet to be revealed?
Well, my evil nemesis seems to have a spaceship and I am concerned about being pushed out the airlock, but I have already said too much!
aww, it's a cute little thing, can I name him?? :)
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