bobcat
Well-known Member
- Location
- Northern Calif
Previously scientists have discovered microbes still clinging to life after 250 million years. Apparently, life is much more durable than anyone could have ever imagined. With a little coaxing from nourishment, the microbes shake off their slumber, put their party hats on, and get on with life. It appears they weren't really dead, as in the movie The Princess Bride, where Billy Crystal informs his visitors that Wesley isn't really dead, just mostly dead.
Now scientists have discovered microbes that are over 2 billion years old, and brace yourself, they may be alive as well. It's unthinkable to light that many candles and put them on a cake to welcome them back to the "Holy crap, what have you done to this place" reality. Nevertheless, what do you do with the hungry little critters once they get over their epic hangover. They can't be in the best of spirits after being starved in the dark for over 200 million years. Perhaps these little super bugs are even immortal.
Trying to interpret what it all means is nothing short of a butt scratcher. Does it mean that the seeds of life could be haphazardly sprinkled everywhere in the universe just waiting for conditions to improve, or someone to hook up jumper cables to their spaceship battery and give them a little jolt. Does it mean that human suspended animation might be possible in the future? Do we re-define life? Since some of the samples were discovered in salt crystals, does it mean we are sprinkling them on our culinary delights and inviting them to live with us?
In any case, I think these high achievers deserve a big round of applause, and at least a full page in Ripley's.
Now scientists have discovered microbes that are over 2 billion years old, and brace yourself, they may be alive as well. It's unthinkable to light that many candles and put them on a cake to welcome them back to the "Holy crap, what have you done to this place" reality. Nevertheless, what do you do with the hungry little critters once they get over their epic hangover. They can't be in the best of spirits after being starved in the dark for over 200 million years. Perhaps these little super bugs are even immortal.
Trying to interpret what it all means is nothing short of a butt scratcher. Does it mean that the seeds of life could be haphazardly sprinkled everywhere in the universe just waiting for conditions to improve, or someone to hook up jumper cables to their spaceship battery and give them a little jolt. Does it mean that human suspended animation might be possible in the future? Do we re-define life? Since some of the samples were discovered in salt crystals, does it mean we are sprinkling them on our culinary delights and inviting them to live with us?
In any case, I think these high achievers deserve a big round of applause, and at least a full page in Ripley's.
