"When you are in the space station, and there is no gravity, how do the astronaunts sleep, without floating around in their beds? "
Content with the tag: “geothermal hot springs”
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Studying Biology's Dark Matter
Microbiologist Brian Hedlund was recently selected to lead a team of scientists studying microbial habitats in the Great Basin hot springs. Image Credit: UNLVAstrobiologists have long been interested in microorganisms that can survive in the harshest environments that Earth has to offer, from deep sea vents to geothermal hot springs. Unfortunately, these studies are hindered by a phenomenon known as ‘biological dark matter.’
Biological dark matter is a term that refers to the numerous microorganisms that live in natural environments on Earth that cannot be cultivated in a laboratory. In order to study how microorganisms function, and the role they play in terrestrial ecosystems, scientists have traditionally relied on their ability to grow and observe them in the lab. These laboratory studies...
November 4, 2011 / Written by: Aaron L. Gronstal
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