What’s Growing on the Space Station’s Walls?

[antares4141]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/MT1

 

[Marco]

That actually doesn't bear thinking about

But given how we're all now told how important our personal microbiome is to health and the 'hygiene hypothesis' would suggest that a diverse microbiome is better, I wonder if the relative isolation has any adverse effects on the astronauts' microbiome/immune system.

 

[antares4141]

I hate to even speculate. But if I were I would say that anytime you eliminate certain types of pathogens and concentrate other types. Or create an unnatural or extraordinary situation we are not acclimated or accustomed to.

Weather internal inside our bodies or externally in our environment. There is the potential for a wide range of problems to develop. And I think that is nasa's concern.

Of course there are exceptions like where liability is involved than any amount of imbalance is safe. (sarcasm)

 

[panckage]

I wonder if anyone has shone a black light on space station's walls yet

 

[Large Donner]

I wonder if anyone has shone a black light on space station's walls yet

What effect would that have on the green screen?

 

[panckage]

What effect would that have on the green screen?

Thats a very good question... what do you think?

 

[Large Donner]

Thats a very good question... what do you think?

I think a funny thing happened on the way to he moon.

 

[panckage]

I think a funny thing happened on the way to he moon.

Is that the real reason the Apollo probe malfunctioned?

 

[Large Donner]

Is that the real reason the Apollo probe malfunctioned?

I don't know, maybe its cos the Astronauts have gone wild.

 

[Little Bluestem]

I am glad no one is doing a study of my apartment to identify areas in need of more stringent cleaning.

 

[panckage]

I am glad no one is doing a study of my apartment to identify areas in need of more stringent cleaning.

Sounds like you are having a bit more fun than the rest of us here

 

[Little Bluestem]

Not really. Cleaning is just far enough down the 'necessary for survival' list that I don't get to it as often as I should. I can't seem to get all of the dishes washed up and the counters and stove top clean at the same time.

 

[Forbin]

In the 1964 Outer Limits episode "Specimen: Unknown," a "barnacle" is found growing on the hull of a space station in orbit above the Earth. The barnacle later blooms into a "flower" which kills a young Dabney Coleman. This explains why to this day Dabney Coleman refuses to visit the International Space Station.

 

[Little Bluestem]

How fortunate that this extraterrestrial species would grow on AGAR. Well, not for the Dabney Coleman character.