What happens to an orange when released into outer space?

[blackmonsters]

When I say released into outer space, I mean outside the space craft with no protection.
Anyone have a video link of something like that?
It wouldn't have to be an orange; but any fruit/vegetable or live bait.

Thanks

PS : Seeking video of actual events; not scientific explanations.

[Busty2]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

When I say released into outer space, I mean outside the space craft with no protection.
Anyone have a video link of something like that?
It wouldn't have to be an orange; but any fruit/vegetable or live bait.

Thanks

PS : Seeking video of actual events; not scientific explanations.

Great question, i'd also like to know what would happen to Shawarma if jettisoned into space ? Asking for a friend.

[ilnjscb]

Things cost about $8,000 per pound to take into space - and releasing something into space is actually fairly complex, so probably not

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by ilnjscb

Things cost about $8,000 per pound to take into space - and releasing something into space is actually fairly complex, so probably not

PS : Seeking video of actual events; not scientific explanations.

[2MuchMark]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

When I say released into outer space, I mean outside the space craft with no protection.
Anyone have a video link of something like that?
It wouldn't have to be an orange; but any fruit/vegetable or live bait.

Thanks

PS : Seeking video of actual events; not scientific explanations.

Probably not much. I don't think an Orange's skin is air tight so pressure would equalize fast without much or any bloating. Since there's no air in space it would not freeze solid right away as the lack of air means heat would not be carried away from it that fast. The water in it would turn to ice and crystallize so it might shred some of its innards.

Originally Posted by ilnjscb

Things cost about $8,000 per pound to take into space - and releasing something into space is actually fairly complex, so probably not

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by 2MuchMark

Probably not much. I don't think an Orange's skin is air tight so pressure would equalize fast without much or any bloating. Since there's no air in space it would not freeze solid right away as the lack of air means heat would not be carried away from it that fast. The water in it would turn to ice and crystallize so it might shred some of its innards.

PS : Seeking video of actual events; not scientific explanations.

[CaptainHowdy]

You'll need the orange's consent first . . .

[Busty2]

[Bladewire]

Slice of pizza launched into space.

Starts @ 9:30

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Slice of pizza launched into space.

Starts @ 9:30

That's bullshit.

The balloon never leaves the atmosphere to enter outer space.

[Bosa]

Tiny_animals_survive_exposure_to_space

https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/H...osure_to_space

vacuum-of-space-no-match-for-the-mighty-radish/

https://www.newscientist.com/article...mighty-radish/

primitive-plants-survive-almost-two-years-in-outer-space/

https://www.newscientist.com/article...n-outer-space/

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

That's bullshit.

The balloon never leaves the atmosphere to enter outer space.

Take what you can get lazy ass

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Take what you can get lazy ass

Eat a dick constant lying, paid political shill.

[Bosa]

https://spacefellowship.com/news/art...a-elegans.html

(ESA) – Space is a hostile environment for living things, but small organisms on the Expose-E experiment unit outside Europe’s Columbus ISS laboratory module have resisted the solar UV radiation, cosmic rays, vacuum and varying temperatures for 18 months. A certain lichen seems to be particularly happy in open space!

Here on Earth, living organisms can be found almost everywhere, from the abysses of the oceans to the highest mountain peaks. Even extremely dry deserts and cold glaciers support some kind of life. Credits: ESA/NASA
Credits: ESA/NASA

Recent findings from martian meteorite samples provide stronger evidence that life might have existed within our neighbouring planet too, so perhaps there is also some kind of life on the red surface of Mars.
To find out how our terrestrial organisms survive in space conditions, ESA has backed astrobiological research for more than 20 years. “The purpose is to increase our knowledge on the origin, evolution and adaptations of life and also provide an experimental basis for recommendations for planetary protection,” says René Demets, a biologist working in ESA.

Expose it

The most recent experiment carrier was Expose-E, launched to the International Space Station (ISS) in February 2008 aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis and carried back to Earth by Space Shuttle Discovery last September. A total of 664 biological and biochemical samples were exposed to open space for 18 months.

Expose-E is a suitcase-sized box divided into two layers of three experiment trays, each holding four squared recesses. All but two of these 12 boxes hold a suite of biological or biochemical samples in small compartments.

Two of the three trays were directly exposed to the vacuum of space and the third has gas inside, simulating the thin martian atmosphere consisting mainly of carbon dioxide. The window protecting the ‘martian samples’ also had an optical filter imitating the solar spectrum on the martian surface. Two layers of similar experiment trays were used, to have one layer on top exposed to solar light and another underneath in shadow.

An almost identical experiment carrier, Expose-R, remains at the ISS, where it is installed on the Russian part of the station.

It’s better to be dry

Expose-E samples were provided by eight international scientific groups and the project is coordinated by the Microgravity User Support Centre (MUSC) at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) under the European programme for Life and Physical sciences and applications using the International Space Station (ELIPS) of ESA’s Directorate of Human Spaceflight. The research groups are now examining the samples and have released some preliminary scientific results.

René Demets with Biopan container at the surface of Foton-M3 capsule



“These Xanthoria elegans lichens were flown on Expose-E and they are the best survivors we know,” explains Demets. Lichen is a sort of macroscopic composite organism of a fungus and a photosynthetic partner that is typically alga or cyanobacterium.

“These can be found typically in the most extreme places on Earth. When they are put in an environment they don’t like, they put themselves in off-mode and wait for better conditions. Once you put them back in a suitable environment and give them some water, they just carry on living as before.”

The key issue is water: it is almost immediately vaporised in the vacuum of space. Only anhydrobiotic organisms, which are dry and capable of sustaining long periods in extremely dry conditions, can survive space vacuum. Apart from lichens, only a few animals and plants can resist the vacuum: water-bears, brine shrimp and larvae of the African midge Polypedilum vanderplank are the only animals known to survive open space. Some dried plant seeds are also dry enough.

'Tardigrades' aka water-bears




Other space hazards are the repeated extreme temperature changes and radiation. “Radiation is a big danger for life in space”, says Demets. “Cosmic rays are very energetic and ionising, but the most damaging is the hard UV radiation from the Sun. Here on the ground, UV-C is used mainly in applications where you need to kill bacteria.” Over time the effects of high-energy particles, X-rays and gamma radiation are more important, because they destroy DNA and cause genetic mutations.
Space-travelling bugs?

MUSC is conducting a parallel ground simulation exposing similar samples to the same environmental parameters as in space, with the exception of low gravity and ionising radiation. “This simulation will last throughout the whole mission and after this we will have the final results,” says Demets. “I can’t wait for that moment, because we already know that we’ll have interesting results.”

The fact that living organisms do survive in open space seems to support the idea of panspermia – life spreading from planet to another, or even between solar systems. “The loose end in this theory is now arrival at a planet, because no living thing can survive the fiery entry through an atmosphere,” Demets says. “But possibly deep inside a space rock the conditions are better. Therefore we’re now thinking of an astrobiology experiment involving a return to Earth”.

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by Bosa

Tiny_animals_survive_exposure_to_space

https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/H...osure_to_space

vacuum-of-space-no-match-for-the-mighty-radish/

https://www.newscientist.com/article...mighty-radish/

primitive-plants-survive-almost-two-years-in-outer-space/

https://www.newscientist.com/article...n-outer-space/

.....

This is exactly the stuff that I did NOT ask for.

I need a video of it happening, not experiments and theories.

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by Bosa

.

Please stop.

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

Eat a dick constant lying, paid political shill.

I'll remember not to go through the effort for you in the future





lazy ass

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

I'll remember not to go through the effort for you in the future





lazy ass

Good. Thanks because you post bullshit all day everyday.

I googled all the lame shit you posted before I made this thread, you racist Mexican dick hater. (Bladeweirdo hates brow dicks)

[Bosa]

[gorillaz_]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

Good. Thanks because you post bullshit all day everyday.

I googled all the lame shit you posted before I made this thread, you racist Mexican dick hater. (Bladeweirdo hates brow dicks)

an off topic post on forum that allow and promote racism vs 100's of targeted racist threads from few right wing posters.

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by Bosa

Do you understand the difference between being in a ship, capsule or bottle vs unprotected in outer space?

You are posting like some NASA employee who's scared I might disclose something.

[brassmonkey]

freeze and loses color i think.e

[Sabby]

This thread reminds me of lemon guy. He’s one of my top 5 weirdos ever. Anyone want to hear the lemon guy story it’s a good one. Sorry I didn’t record it.

[OneHungLo]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

Eat a dick constant lying, paid political shill.

[just a punk]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

When I say released into outer space, I mean outside the space craft with no protection.

It will be frozen.

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

It wouldn't have to be an orange; but any fruit/vegetable or live bait.

Have no idea about a bait, but a human being will least about one minute. After that he will die of asphyxiation and overcooling.

[ilnjscb]

Originally Posted by ilnjscb

Things cost about $8,000 per pound to take into space - and releasing something into space is actually fairly complex, so probably not

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

PS : Seeking video of actual events; not scientific explanations.

GoFundMe: My internet friend wants to see an orange released in space

Goal: $34,000

[Grapesoda]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

Eat a dick

that would be in the cooking forum my man

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by ilnjscb

GoFundMe: My internet friend wants to see an orange released in space

Goal: $34,000

Laughing for a friend.

.

[astronaut x]

Lets send Trump to space and find out.

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Take what you can get lazy ass

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

Eat a dick constant lying, paid political shill.

Love is so beautiful to watch

.

[sarettah]

[Bosa]

Originally Posted by blackmonsters

Do you understand the difference between being in a ship, capsule or bottle vs unprotected in outer space?

You are posting like some NASA employee who's scared I might disclose something.

There are no videos. Only photos of long term experiments.
They are not taking oranges or animals and exposing them to space. That would be inhumane to the animals fuck the orange

EXPOSE is a multi-user facility mounted outside the International Space Station dedicated to astrobiology.[1][2] EXPOSE was developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) for long-term spaceflights and was designed to allow exposure of chemical and biological samples to outer space while recording data during exposure.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EXPOSE

Expose-R is installed on the outside of the Russian segment of the ISS

Exposure experiments installed outside International Space Station / Human and Robotic Exploration / Our Activities / ESA mobile

New ISS Experiment Tests Organisms’ Survival Skills in Space
Biological samples will be exposed to the harsh environment outside the space station.

EXPOSE-R – Spaceflight101 – International Space Station

https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-pl...ace-180952600/

The nine experiments carried by Expose-R:

AMINO Hervé Cottin (F) Effects of light radiation on amino acids and other organic compounds in Earth orbit

ENDO Charles Cockell (UK) Effects of space environment on endolithic microorganisms (living in rocks)

OSMO Rocco Mancinelli (I) Exposition of osmophile microorganisms (living in sugar-rich environment) to space environment

SPORES Gerda Horneck (D) Spores placed in artificial meteorites

PHOTO Jean Cadet (F) Effects of solar radiation on the genes of spores

SUBTIL Nobuo Munakata (Japon) Mutation effects of space environment on bacteria spores (Bacillus subtilis)

PUR Györgyi Ronto (Hun) Effect of space environment on the T7 phage, its DNA and polycrystalline uracil

ORGANIC Pascale Ehrenfreund (NL) Evolution of organic matter placed in space

IMBP Vladimir Sychev (Russie) Exposition of terrestrial organisms in dormant state

[Bosa]

Here you go!!.






Living Bacteria "From OUTER!!! Space" Have Been Found on The OUTSIDE!!! of The ISS

https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2017/...space-station/

Scientists find living bacteria from OUTER!!! space on ISS satellite’s surface

TASS: Science & Space - Scientists find living bacteria from outer space on ISS satellite?s surface

Living Bacteria "From OUTER!! Space" Have Been Found on The OUTSIDE!! of The ISS

https://www.sciencealert.com/living-...iss-alien-life


In an interview with TASS (yes, the Russian media let this alien cat out of the bag, NASA), cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, busy preparing for his third trip to the International Space Station on December 17th, revealed that during his previous 365 days in space he encountered what he describes as life that was not brought to the ISS by humans or floated up on its own but has “come from outer space.”

Shkaplerov explained that he and other cosmonauts out on spacewalks used sterile cotton swabs to collect samples from the outer skin of the space station, especially from remote and obscure places where other spacewalkers haven’t looked before (hear that, NASA?). Wow. How did they determine that what they swabbed was some sort of alien bacteria?

“After that, the samples were sent back to Earth.”
Ahhhh! Really?

“They are being studied so far and it seems that they pose no danger.”
Key words in cosmonaut Shkaplerov’s statement: “so far” and “it seems.” Yes, bacteria samples have been found on the outside of the ISS before – that’s how researchers found terrestrial bacteria that reached space via some sort of ionospheric lift and survived the vacuum and severe temperature shifts of space for years. They’ve also studied microorganisms inside the ISS and observed that space can cause them to mysteriously shape-shift, making them hardier. According to Dr. Luis Zea, one of the researchers:

“We knew bacteria behave differently in space and that it takes higher concentrations of antibiotics to kill them.”
All the more reason to keep them in space rather than on Earth, right?

Why hasn’t NASA said anything about this? Does it know all about the alleged alien bacteria and was planning to keep it quiet? There are American and international astronauts onboard the ISS and Cosmonaut Shkaplerov himself worked at the Johnson Space Center in Houston from April–October 2007 as Director of Operations for the Russian Space Agency. Now he’s returning to the space station with NASA astronaut Scott Tingle and Norishige Kanai of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).

What will Shkaplerov be looking for on this mission? Is he taking bigger cotton swabs? Stronger antibiotics? Petri dishes with tougher locks? Phasers?


Scientists on board the International Space Station (ISS) have discovered living bacteria clinging to the orbital facility's external surface, according to a prominent Russian cosmonaut.

Anton Shkaplerov, who will return to the ISS next month, says cotton swabs wiped over the exterior of the station's Russian segment revealed an unidentified life-form that has already been sent back to Earth for scientific analysis.

"[I]t turns out that somehow these swabs reveal bacteria that were absent during the launch of the ISS module," Shkaplerov told Russian news agency TASS.

"That is, they have come from outer space and settled along the external surface. They are being studied so far and it seems that they pose no danger."

According to Shkaplerov, the samples were taken during extravehicular activity, probing obscure areas around the ISS exterior and places where fuel waste accumulates from discharge of the station's engines.

What makes the discovery potentially exciting is that at present we've been given no explanation for just how the organisms got there – nor what exactly they are.

Given the ambiguous nature of Shkaplerov's comments, many media observers are speculating this could be the first known "proof of alien life".

But before we get over-excited here, there are some good reasons to think the bacteria probably aren't extraterrestrial visitors.

This is not the first time Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, has claimed to have found evidence of microbes on the outside of the ISS - but all former discoveries ended up having an earthly origin.

Earlier in the year, Russian cosmonauts detailed the findings of an extensive experiment lasting between 2010 and 2016, in which swabs were taken from outside the ISS and later analysed.

The samples revealed a number of different microorganisms, including a kind of bacterial sea plankton and a type of soil microbe usually found on the island of Madagascar.

As for how these land- and sea-dwelling organisms find their way into space and end up hitchhiking a ride on the ISS, Russian researchers have suggested the voyage could be made via ionosphere lift – in which rising air currents transport matter to the upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere.

Of course, another hypothesis is that the ISS exterior just got contaminated somehow from people, equipment, or crafts launched from Earth to the station.

This wouldn't be too surprising, given the station is said to be riddled with germs and microbe colonies due to all the different astronauts and cosmonauts that have lived within the facility over the years.

Figuring out how stowaway bacteria like this handles life in space is an important area of research – given the implications for future human exploration of the Solar System – and especially since we already know at least some kinds of dangerous bugs actually seem to thrive in microgravity.

Until further analysis of the new bacteria found on the ISS is complete, we won't know what it is, and won't be able to hypothesise on how it got there.

But given these things is already here on Earth and being tested, we're likely to get our answers soon. Stay tuned.

[NatalieK]

an orange in outer space would sound like this...



lucky for us, sound doesn´t travel in space

[NatalieK]

Originally Posted by Bosa

Here you go!!.






Living Bacteria "From OUTER!!! Space" Have Been Found on The OUTSIDE!!! of The ISS

https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2017/...space-station/

Scientists find living bacteria from OUTER!!! space on ISS satellite’s surface

TASS: Science & Space - Scientists find living bacteria from outer space on ISS satellite?s surface

Living Bacteria "From OUTER!! Space" Have Been Found on The OUTSIDE!! of The ISS
https://www.sciencealert.com/living-...iss-alien-life


In an interview with TASS (yes, the Russian media let this alien cat out of the bag, NASA), cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, busy preparing for his third trip to the International Space Station on December 17th, revealed that during his previous 365 days in space he encountered what he describes as life that was not brought to the ISS by humans or floated up on its own but has “come from outer space.”

Shkaplerov explained that he and other cosmonauts out on spacewalks used sterile cotton swabs to collect samples from the outer skin of the space station, especially from remote and obscure places where other spacewalkers haven’t looked before (hear that, NASA?). Wow. How did they determine that what they swabbed was some sort of alien bacteria?

“After that, the samples were sent back to Earth.”
Ahhhh! Really?

“They are being studied so far and it seems that they pose no danger.”
Key words in cosmonaut Shkaplerov’s statement: “so far” and “it seems.” Yes, bacteria samples have been found on the outside of the ISS before – that’s how researchers found terrestrial bacteria that reached space via some sort of ionospheric lift and survived the vacuum and severe temperature shifts of space for years. They’ve also studied microorganisms inside the ISS and observed that space can cause them to mysteriously shape-shift, making them hardier. According to Dr. Luis Zea, one of the researchers:

“We knew bacteria behave differently in space and that it takes higher concentrations of antibiotics to kill them.”
All the more reason to keep them in space rather than on Earth, right?

Why hasn’t NASA said anything about this? Does it know all about the alleged alien bacteria and was planning to keep it quiet? There are American and international astronauts onboard the ISS and Cosmonaut Shkaplerov himself worked at the Johnson Space Center in Houston from April–October 2007 as Director of Operations for the Russian Space Agency. Now he’s returning to the space station with NASA astronaut Scott Tingle and Norishige Kanai of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).

What will Shkaplerov be looking for on this mission? Is he taking bigger cotton swabs? Stronger antibiotics? Petri dishes with tougher locks? Phasers?


Scientists on board the International Space Station (ISS) have discovered living bacteria clinging to the orbital facility's external surface, according to a prominent Russian cosmonaut.

Anton Shkaplerov, who will return to the ISS next month, says cotton swabs wiped over the exterior of the station's Russian segment revealed an unidentified life-form that has already been sent back to Earth for scientific analysis.

"[I]t turns out that somehow these swabs reveal bacteria that were absent during the launch of the ISS module," Shkaplerov told Russian news agency TASS.

"That is, they have come from outer space and settled along the external surface. They are being studied so far and it seems that they pose no danger."

According to Shkaplerov, the samples were taken during extravehicular activity, probing obscure areas around the ISS exterior and places where fuel waste accumulates from discharge of the station's engines.

What makes the discovery potentially exciting is that at present we've been given no explanation for just how the organisms got there – nor what exactly they are.

Given the ambiguous nature of Shkaplerov's comments, many media observers are speculating this could be the first known "proof of alien life".

But before we get over-excited here, there are some good reasons to think the bacteria probably aren't extraterrestrial visitors.

This is not the first time Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, has claimed to have found evidence of microbes on the outside of the ISS - but all former discoveries ended up having an earthly origin.

Earlier in the year, Russian cosmonauts detailed the findings of an extensive experiment lasting between 2010 and 2016, in which swabs were taken from outside the ISS and later analysed.

The samples revealed a number of different microorganisms, including a kind of bacterial sea plankton and a type of soil microbe usually found on the island of Madagascar.

As for how these land- and sea-dwelling organisms find their way into space and end up hitchhiking a ride on the ISS, Russian researchers have suggested the voyage could be made via ionosphere lift – in which rising air currents transport matter to the upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere.

Of course, another hypothesis is that the ISS exterior just got contaminated somehow from people, equipment, or crafts launched from Earth to the station.

This wouldn't be too surprising, given the station is said to be riddled with germs and microbe colonies due to all the different astronauts and cosmonauts that have lived within the facility over the years.

Figuring out how stowaway bacteria like this handles life in space is an important area of research – given the implications for future human exploration of the Solar System – and especially since we already know at least some kinds of dangerous bugs actually seem to thrive in microgravity.

Until further analysis of the new bacteria found on the ISS is complete, we won't know what it is, and won't be able to hypothesise on how it got there.

But given these things is already here on Earth and being tested, we're likely to get our answers soon. Stay tuned.

wow this is amazing! Bacteria has always found a way to continue to grow and live. Wondering what will grow from this and how long it would take, probably millions of years for new life for a walking life form, but not so long for a slug type animal, maybe 1000?

[Bosa]

The Only Animal that can Survive in OUTER Space

[CaptainHowdy]

[blackmonsters]

I didn't mean to start any shit with this thread.

Sorry.

[blackmonsters]

Originally Posted by sarettah

Love is so beautiful to watch

.

[Bosa]

USC, JPL to launch fungi in quest to develop space meds.

Researchers at USC and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory say they will be the first team in the world to launch fungi into space for the purpose of potentially developing new medicine for use both in space and on Earth.

Certain types of fungi produce very important molecules called secondary metabolites that are not essential for their growth or reproduction but can be used to make beneficial pharmaceuticals. Examples of secondary metabolites include the antibiotic penicillin and the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin.

The stressful environment of the International Space Station (ISS) could trigger changes in physiological responses (such as gene expression) and metabolism of a well-studied fungus called Aspergillus nidulans, said Clay Wang, a professor of pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences and chemistry at the USC School of Pharmacy and the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

“The high-radiation, microgravity environment in space could prompt Aspergillus nidulans to produce molecules it doesn’t create in Earth’s less stressful conditions,” said Wang, who heads the USC-JPL collaborative study. “We’ve done extensive genetic analysis of this fungus and found that it could potentially produce 40 different types of drugs. The organism is known to produce osteoporosis drugs, which is very important from an astronaut’s perspective because we know that in space travel, astronauts experience bone loss.”

Space specimen
USC and JPL researchers will send specimens of Aspergillus nidulans to the International Space Station aboard the SpaceX CRS-8 mission. A Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 1:43 p.m. PDT on April 8. This will be SpaceX’s first Cargo Resupply Services flight since CRS-7 exploded 139 seconds into flight on June 28, 2015.

Based on current, Earth-based research, USC scientists said molecules from Aspergillus nidulans have the potential to be used in anti-cancer, anti-fungal and Alzheimer’s disease studies. As a leading research university, USC is uniquely equipped to address these intractable problems both on Earth and perhaps beyond.

Kasthuri “Venkat” Venkateswaran, senior research scientist at JPL and co-principal investigator in this study, said the new compounds that might be produced in space could be valuable for humankind.

“This is an ambitious project for NASA to see if we could have some breakthrough in space biology,” Venkat said. “Until now, we have sent bacteria and yeast to the ISS. We have also exposed fungi to facilities outside ISS, but this is the first time we are growing fungi inside ISS to seek new drug discovery. NASA needs to develop self-sustaining measures to keep humans healthy in space because calling 911 is not an option.”

Wang’s lab and others have found that when fungi are put in stressful conditions, silent secondary metabolite pathways are turned on. Aspergillus nidulans has been used as a genetic model in fungal research and its genome was the first to be sequenced.

‘Fungal Rosetta Stone’
Wang began focusing his research on this “fungal Rosetta Stone” in 2005 and has been able to link about 30 percent of its secondary metabolites genes with the potential bioactive products they produce. His lab has yet to unlock and mine cryptic pathways that could prove to be useful therapeutics.

“These drug-producing organisms do not make all the drugs they can make,” Wang said. “In most cases, the drug-producing pathways are silent. They only make the drugs when they need to.”

Four different Aspergillus nidulans strains will be stored at 4 degrees Celsius (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit) and placed in the payload of SpaceX CRS-8. Once the spacecraft reaches the ISS, the fungi will be placed in ideal growth conditions at 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit), where they will remain for either four or seven days. Then the fungal payload will be cooled to 4 degrees Celsius. After splashdown in May, the samples will be returned to USC, enabling Wang and his team to analyze the data with a control sample grown on Earth.

“This is the first project where we see an intersection between pharmaceutical science and space exploration,” Wang said. “Drugs have an expiration date. NASA’s human mission to Mars is expected to last anywhere from one to three years. Not all drugs are going to be stable in that time period, so the ability to make drugs in space will enable us to go further away from Earth and will also benefit future space explorations.”

NASA’s Space Biology Program, which aims to uncover new basic knowledge that could equip the agency for human space exploration, provided USC and JPL $600,000 for this study. USC School of Pharmacy doctoral students Jillian Romsdahl and Adriana Blachowicz participated in this project.

[beerptrol]

The radiation causes it to mutate