Comments on: Another danger for astronauts: Super bacteria http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:59:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1623353 ocker3 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 03:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1623353  Subjectively shorter because I'd be having so much fun. Also, there's no guaruntee I'll get picked for one of the hyperdrive experiments that causes my DNA to mutate into the perfect species a la Voyager  Subjectively shorter because I’d be having so much fun. Also, there’s no guaruntee I’ll get picked for one of the hyperdrive experiments that causes my DNA to mutate into the perfect species a la Voyager

]]> By: Halloween_Jack http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1623145 Halloween_Jack Tue, 08 Jan 2013 23:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1623145 I wonder how many of those early infections were caused by severely limited sanitary facilities. Imagine spending eight days in the front seat of a car with two other full-grown men, either using diapers or pooping in a plastic bag that used adhesive to secure itself around your anus. That was what going to the moon was like.  I wonder how many of those early infections were caused by severely limited sanitary facilities. Imagine spending eight days in the front seat of a car with two other full-grown men, either using diapers or pooping in a plastic bag that used adhesive to secure itself around your anus. That was what going to the moon was like. 

]]> By: mak1982 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1622979 mak1982 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1622979 Very interesting article, but does it bug anyone else when they put on their feminist glasses? The main scientist they discuss is "feisty" (a word I've never seen applied to a 40-something professional man) was taught "how to think mechanically and mathematically" by a male "friend" (not colleague) while she taught him "about genes and bacteria" (so he taught her how to think, she passed on a body of knowledge). There are other issues, but I'll stop there. Still a good article, but I think sometimes it's easier to bring good up to great with a little awareness or criticism. There have been a number of posts here about how women scientists are viewed, and sometimes I wonder whether a friendly reminder to people who are clearly trying is more helpful than railing against stubbornly ignorant people. Of course, the trick is having it come off as friendly, and not haranguing... Very interesting article, but does it bug anyone else when they put on their feminist glasses? The main scientist they discuss is “feisty” (a word I’ve never seen applied to a 40-something professional man) was taught “how to think mechanically and mathematically” by a male “friend” (not colleague) while she taught him “about genes and bacteria” (so he taught her how to think, she passed on a body of knowledge).

There are other issues, but I’ll stop there. Still a good article, but I think sometimes it’s easier to bring good up to great with a little awareness or criticism. There have been a number of posts here about how women scientists are viewed, and sometimes I wonder whether a friendly reminder to people who are clearly trying is more helpful than railing against stubbornly ignorant people. Of course, the trick is having it come off as friendly, and not haranguing…

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1622820 oasisob1 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1622820 Are the years in space shorter? This time dilation thing always confuses me. Are the years in space shorter? This time dilation thing always confuses me.

]]> By: dagfooyo http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1622301 dagfooyo Tue, 08 Jan 2013 06:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1622301 Seems like there's a pretty simple solution to this one - start building spinnable ships and stations so people can live in artificial gravity up there.  It wouldn't require that much more material, just tether two modules together a long distance apart and rotate them around a common central point.  Presto- gravitized living spaces.  Wouldn't require energy for upkeep - you could have a docking module in the center with tunnels going out to the ends.  Why aren't they doing this already? Seems like there’s a pretty simple solution to this one – start building spinnable ships and stations so people can live in artificial gravity up there.  It wouldn’t require that much more material, just tether two modules together a long distance apart and rotate them around a common central point.  Presto- gravitized living spaces.  Wouldn’t require energy for upkeep – you could have a docking module in the center with tunnels going out to the ends.  Why aren’t they doing this already?

]]> By: ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1622222 ocker3 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1622222 But surely that is the fault of a depressed immune system, not because the bacteria are stronger, yes? But surely that is the fault of a depressed immune system, not because the bacteria are stronger, yes?

]]> By: ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1622223 ocker3 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1622223 Cool, more space for the rest of us. Once I have some kids, I'd be happy to live even a few short years in space. Cool, more space for the rest of us. Once I have some kids, I’d be happy to live even a few short years in space.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1622215 Antinous / Moderator Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1622215 It's still safer than Australia. It’s still safer than Australia.

]]> By: Vincenzo Ravina http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1622199 Vincenzo Ravina Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1622199 BoingBoing has cured me of my desire to visit space. I like living too much. BoingBoing has cured me of my desire to visit space. I like living too much.

]]> By: spejic http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1622193 spejic Tue, 08 Jan 2013 02:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1622193 No, but the body certainly is affected by gravity. It is designed to pump and move fluids around in a world with gravity. Without it, those things don't work the same or as well. Fluids tend to concentrate in the upper body, and the body interprets this as a problem and tries to dehydrate itself. The body also produces fewer red and white blood cells. Bacteria are not virulent in a vacuum (Ha! Space joke!) - they operate in an environment. Change that environment, and the behavior changes. No, but the body certainly is affected by gravity. It is designed to pump and move fluids around in a world with gravity. Without it, those things don’t work the same or as well. Fluids tend to concentrate in the upper body, and the body interprets this as a problem and tries to dehydrate itself. The body also produces fewer red and white blood cells.

Bacteria are not virulent in a vacuum (Ha! Space joke!) – they operate in an environment. Change that environment, and the behavior changes.

]]> By: redfield http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1622173 redfield Tue, 08 Jan 2013 01:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1622173 As a microbiologist, I find the data suggesting that bacteria become more virulent (cause more dangerous infections) in space to be very unconvincing.  I wrote a RRResearch blog post about it in April 2011. There's also has no logical foundation for this result.  Bacteria have no way to sense gravity at all. As a microbiologist, I find the data suggesting that bacteria become more virulent (cause more dangerous infections) in space to be very unconvincing.  I wrote a RRResearch blog post about it in April 2011.
There’s also has no logical foundation for this result.  Bacteria have no way to sense gravity at all.

]]> By: Jardine http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1622151 Jardine Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1622151 Is virulent the proper word to describe bacteria? Is virulent the proper word to describe bacteria?

]]> By: Matthew Petty http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1622104 Matthew Petty Mon, 07 Jan 2013 23:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1622104 Calling Professor Quatermass... Calling Professor Quatermass…

]]> By: Jose http://boingboing.net/2013/01/07/another-danger-for-astronauts.html#comment-1622074 Jose Mon, 07 Jan 2013 22:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=204466#comment-1622074 Yep.  My contact in the future tells me that the zombie plague of 2017 comes from one of the first space tourists.  Dang you, Branson! Yep.  My contact in the future tells me that the zombie plague of 2017 comes from one of the first space tourists.  Dang you, Branson!

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