Comments on: Attempt no landings there http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2007/02/26/attempt-no-landings-there/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:39:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Darmok http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2007/02/26/attempt-no-landings-there/comment-page-1/#comment-308 Darmok Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:55:31 +0000 http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/index.php/2007/02/26/attempt-no-landings-there/#comment-308 Perhaps KTHX is referring to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinococcus_radiodurans" rel="nofollow"><em>Deinococcus radiodurans</em></a>—though while it is resistant to radiation, it does not specifically utilize it as far as I know. Perhaps KTHX is referring to Deinococcus radiodurans—though while it is resistant to radiation, it does not specifically utilize it as far as I know.

]]> By: Cyde Weys http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2007/02/26/attempt-no-landings-there/comment-page-1/#comment-291 Cyde Weys Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:43:33 +0000 http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/index.php/2007/02/26/attempt-no-landings-there/#comment-291 By radiation do you mean electromagnetic radiation? If so, I can think of all sorts of life that thrive on it. They're called plants. If you're talking about radioactivity, well, I'd <em>really</em> like to see a cite on that. It's true, radioactive decay gives off a lot of energy, but trying to harness it is very dangerous. As for sterilizing a space probe — it's hard but not impossible. NASA has been working on it for years. By radiation do you mean electromagnetic radiation? If so, I can think of all sorts of life that thrive on it. They’re called plants. If you’re talking about radioactivity, well, I’d really like to see a cite on that. It’s true, radioactive decay gives off a lot of energy, but trying to harness it is very dangerous.

As for sterilizing a space probe — it’s hard but not impossible. NASA has been working on it for years.

]]> By: KTHX http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2007/02/26/attempt-no-landings-there/comment-page-1/#comment-290 KTHX Tue, 27 Feb 2007 09:22:08 +0000 http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/index.php/2007/02/26/attempt-no-landings-there/#comment-290 The thing is, anything we send to Europa might still be contaminated with microbes and what not that might be able to survive in a vacuum. Recently, scientists have discovered bacteria that thrives specifically on radiation, of all things. Radiation is supposed to break down DNA, but apparently, this bacterium likes it. Who knows, maybe bacteria or viruses might be inadvertantly carried on the space probe? The thing is, anything we send to Europa might still be contaminated with microbes and what not that might be able to survive in a vacuum. Recently, scientists have discovered bacteria that thrives specifically on radiation, of all things. Radiation is supposed to break down DNA, but apparently, this bacterium likes it. Who knows, maybe bacteria or viruses might be inadvertantly carried on the space probe?

]]> By: Darmok http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/2007/02/26/attempt-no-landings-there/comment-page-1/#comment-288 Darmok Tue, 27 Feb 2007 06:01:44 +0000 http://www.cydeweys.com/blog/index.php/2007/02/26/attempt-no-landings-there/#comment-288 After Titan, I think Europa is one of the coolest and most enigmatic moons in the solar system. After Titan, I think Europa is one of the coolest and most enigmatic moons in the solar system.

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