In todays light hearted look at the (non-political) news

[KungFooBob]

PC Reg Hollis catches the crim!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr70ym783rxo

[KungFooBob]

Don't worry, I live in Barnsley and love Cola Bottles, but it's not me!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0593gy62edo

[Horse]

https://blog.bostonorganics.com/unknown ... stronauts/


During routine operations in May 2023, the Shenzhou-15 crew collected samples from Tiangong’s habitation module that would later reveal something unprecedented. Scientists identified a completely new bacterial species, subsequently named Niallia tiangongensis after its birthplace among the stars. This microorganism represents the first known bacterium to develop specifically within a Chinese space facility.

This newly discovered bacterium shares genetic similarities with Niallia circulans, a terrestrial soil bacterium known for its exceptional resilience. However, the space-adapted variant demonstrates unique characteristics that set it apart from its earthbound relatives.

Scientists remain uncertain about direct health threats posed by Niallia tiangongensis to crew members aboard space stations. However, its genetic relationship to bacteria capable of causing severe infections in immunocompromised individuals warrants serious consideration. Space travel inherently weakens human immune systems, making astronauts more vulnerable to microbial infections.

The accumulating mutations observed in space-adapted bacteria raise concerns about antibiotic resistance development. Traditional medical treatments may prove less effective against organisms that have evolved under unique space conditions. Mission planners must consider these factors when developing medical protocols for long-duration flights and permanent space installations.


Equipment contamination represents another significant concern, as uncontrolled microbial growth could compromise sensitive instruments or life support systems. Understanding how these organisms interact with spacecraft materials and technologies becomes crucial for mission success. Just as scientists study the largest marine predators ever recorded in our oceans, space researchers must comprehensively analyze these microscopic space inhabitants.

Read More How long is pizza good for in the fridge?
Implications for future space exploration missions

The Tiangong discovery joins a growing catalog of space-adapted microorganisms identified in various facilities. NASA’s Phoenix mission preparation revealed dozens of unknown bacterial species thriving in supposedly sterile clean rooms. These findings demonstrate that microbial life consistently finds ways to survive in conditions previously thought uninhabitable.

Future missions to Mars, lunar bases, and beyond must incorporate comprehensive microbiome management strategies. The following considerations become essential for mission planning :

Developing advanced sterilization protocols for spacecraft and equipment
Creating monitoring systems for tracking microbial evolution in space
Designing medical countermeasures for space-adapted pathogens
Establishing protocols for sample containment and analysis

Space agencies worldwide recognize that contamination prevention extends beyond protecting celestial bodies from Earth-based organisms. The reverse concern—protecting human crews from space-adapted microbes—requires equal attention. Modern security measures, like those prompting people to consider wrapping car keys in aluminum foil for protection, demonstrate how new threats require innovative countermeasures.

Understanding these microbial adaptations provides valuable insights into astrobiology research and the search for extraterrestrial life. If terrestrial bacteria can rapidly adapt to space conditions, similar processes might occur on other worlds with suitable environments. This knowledge informs our approaches to detecting and studying potential alien microorganisms.

[Count Steer]

https://blog.bostonorganics.com/unknown ... stronauts/


During routine operations in May 2023, the Shenzhou-15 crew collected samples from Tiangong’s habitation module that would later reveal something unprecedented. Scientists identified a completely new bacterial species, subsequently named Niallia tiangongensis after its birthplace among the stars.

........

The accumulating mutations observed in space-adapted bacteria raise concerns about antibiotic resistance development.

.........

The Tiangong discovery joins a growing catalog of space-adapted microorganisms identified in various facilities......

Is there some new meaning of 'unprecedented' that I haven't heard about?

[Cousin Jack]

Is there some new meaning of 'unprecedented' that I haven't heard about?

A bit like the journalistic use of 'unique'.

[Saga Lout]

Was anybody else affected by Vodafone's outage today? My broadband was down for about 3 hours.

Some people were doubly affected: broadband and mobile. I suppose that's a lesson learnt: spread the risk, use different networks for mobile and broadband.

Strangely, after about an hour and a half I noticed I was still receiving emails through Gmail and I could use the Gmail link to google and search for many sites e.g. revtothelimit and it would connect but putting the url into the browser's address bar failed to connect. Weird.

[Horse]

https://blog.bostonorganics.com/unknown ... stronauts/


During routine operations in May 2023, the Shenzhou-15 crew collected samples from Tiangong’s habitation module that would later reveal something unprecedented. Scientists identified a completely new bacterial species, subsequently named Niallia tiangongensis after its birthplace among the stars.

........

The accumulating mutations observed in space-adapted bacteria raise concerns about antibiotic resistance development.

.........

The Tiangong discovery joins a growing catalog of space-adapted microorganisms identified in various facilities......

Is there some new meaning of 'unprecedented' that I haven't heard about?

During routine operations in May 2023, the Shenzhou-15 crew collected samples from Tiangong’s habitation module that would later reveal something unprecedented. Scientists identified a completely new bacterial species, subsequently named Niallia tiangongensis after its birthplace among the stars. This microorganism represents the first known bacterium to develop specifically within a Chinese space facility.

[ZRX61]

We're expecting a big storm tonight & the media is full of doom & gloom. One station (ABC7) sent a reporter to the burn areas in the mountains to talk to locals about mud flows & closed roads etc.
"If anyone gets stuck down the hill, they know we will take care of their animals until they can get back up here.... We have F-FART...."
*awkward silence from reporter*
"Forest Falls Animal Rescue Team"
Reporter: "oh"

[Count Steer]

https://blog.bostonorganics.com/unknown ... stronauts/


During routine operations in May 2023, the Shenzhou-15 crew collected samples from Tiangong’s habitation module that would later reveal something unprecedented. Scientists identified a completely new bacterial species, subsequently named Niallia tiangongensis after its birthplace among the stars.

........

The accumulating mutations observed in space-adapted bacteria raise concerns about antibiotic resistance development.

.........

The Tiangong discovery joins a growing catalog of space-adapted microorganisms identified in various facilities......

Is there some new meaning of 'unprecedented' that I haven't heard about?

During routine operations in May 2023, the Shenzhou-15 crew collected samples from Tiangong’s habitation module that would later reveal something unprecedented. Scientists identified a completely new bacterial species, subsequently named Niallia tiangongensis after its birthplace among the stars. This microorganism represents the first known bacterium to develop specifically within a Chinese space facility.

Therefore totally to be expected once they started looking if they've been detected in other facilities, no? So not unprecedented at all. The ownership of the facility is pretty irrelevant. Bug variants are known to develop in space facilities - fact.

[Horse]

Is there some new meaning of 'unprecedented' that I haven't heard about?

During routine operations in May 2023, the Shenzhou-15 crew collected samples from Tiangong’s habitation module that would later reveal something unprecedented. Scientists identified a completely new bacterial species, subsequently named Niallia tiangongensis after its birthplace among the stars. This microorganism represents the first known bacterium to develop specifically within a Chinese space facility.

Therefore totally to be expected once they started looking if they've been detected in other facilities, no? So not unprecedented at all. The ownership of the facility is pretty irrelevant. Bug variants are known to develop in space facilities - fact.

Actually, I completely agree with you

I'd read previous reporting, so had already been through the same "WTF? question and that bold bit was the nearest 'justification' I could seen.

I added 'journalists' in the BYP thread ages ago ...

[Count Steer]

Actually, I completely agree with you

I'd read previous reporting, so had already been through the same "WTF? question and that bold bit was the nearest 'justification' I could seen.

I added 'journalists' in the BYP thread ages ago ...

Have they investigated why they're mutating? I assume it's to do with zero gravity and they go up there with the crew/kit etc in the first place then lose track of which way is up.

What would be unprecedented would be finding one that was up there already and not known down here in any variant. Given that bacteria are living things and need things to live on/in ie hosts/nutrients that would raise a few questions!

(Even though they may lie dormant for v long periods).

[Horse]

Actually, I completely agree with you

I'd read previous reporting, so had already been through the same "WTF? question and that bold bit was the nearest 'justification' I could seen.

I added 'journalists' in the BYP thread ages ago ...

Have they investigated why they're mutating? I assume it's to do with zero gravity and they go up there with the crew/kit etc in the first place then lose track of which way is up.

What would be unprecedented would be finding one that was up there already and not known down here in any variant. Given that bacteria are living things and need things to live on/in ie hosts/nutrients that would raise a few questions!

(Even though they may lie dormant for v long periods).

At a guess, especially with the Chinese, what we're told is:
a, delayed
b, filtered*

* Hopefully removing the bacteria**
** Is it likely that similar bacteria have developed during the previous decades of space exploration? ***
*** If so, can they survive and thrive on Earth? ****
**** eg The Andromeda Strain?

[ZRX61]

Checkout yesterdays Starship flight, they had it hover before allowing it to descend for the water landing. It just stopped & hung there....

[ZRX61]

737 Max 8 for scale...

Starship.jpg (55.17 KiB) Viewed 1209 times

[gremlin]

And who said the Germans didn't have a sense of humour..?

BBC News - Louvre heist lift-maker seizes the moment with new ad campaign
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpd2zyl304do

[Mike1976]

Have they investigated why they're mutating? I assume it's to do with zero gravity and they go up there with the crew/kit etc in the first place then lose track of which way is up.

More likely hard radiation and/or cosmic rays causing mutation. There is a hole in the magnetosphere due to the recent inexplicable shift in the Earths magnetic field. A massive hole which allows radiation to penetrate the bubble of coverage which otherwise protects the entire planet.

It's somewhere over South America iirc but is growing fast. Japan already lost a very expensive research satellite when its orbit took it though this dead zone and fried all the electronics.

Wouldn't be at all surprised if a similar dose of radiation would rearrange a few genes in a rapidly breeding colony of bacteria.

[Horse]

IIRC that's a big potential issue for interplanetary travel, covered in the excellent 'City on Mars' book.

[Mike1976]

IIRC that's a big potential issue for interplanetary travel, covered in the excellent 'City on Mars' book.

It is also why even if we could accelerate a spaceship to a substantial fraction of the speed of light, you'd need a lit. massive radiation shield. It would be like running into the rain.

[Horse]

https://www.futura-sciences.com/en/at-a ... why_20858/


The Stanford team conducted a years-long study with 46 kids between the ages of 7 and 16, along with their mothers. They recorded each mother’s voice and played it back to her child while monitoring the child’s brain activity with advanced imaging tools.

The result? A groundbreaking glimpse into how a child’s brain responds to a familiar voice. Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the study goes beyond psychology—it gets right down to the neurological roots of teen behavior.

What made this study stand out was its purely brain-based focus. Unlike traditional research based on observation or surveys, this work tracked the actual brain activity connected to age and vocal recognition. The results were both revealing and relatable.

Here’s where it gets fascinating: before age 12, kids’ brains light up when they hear their mother’s voice. It’s a clear marker of how essential parental bonds are in early life. The brain is wired to prioritise familiar, family voices.Family games

But that all changes at 13. Suddenly, teens show far less neural response to their parents’ voices—and much more to unfamiliar ones. Yes, even total strangers now have more sway in a teenager’s auditory world.

This brain shift explains why parents often feel sidelined once their kids hit adolescence. Teenagers are now biologically tuned to notice, and respond to, external voices more than their own family’s.

[Yorick]

FFS. This is light hearted.

Go find somewhere else to argue to the death