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bananas

(27,509 posts)
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 09:54 PM Jun 2012

Lichen Can Survive in Space: Space Station Research Sheds Light On Origin of Life

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120623145623.htm

Lichen Can Survive in Space: Space Station Research Sheds Light On Origin of Life; Potential for Better Sunscreens

ScienceDaily (June 23, 2012) — You can freeze it, thaw it, vacuum dry it and expose it to radiation, but still life survives. ESA's research on the International Space Station is giving credibility to theories that life came from outer space -- as well as helping to create better sunscreens.

<snip>

The lichen have attracted interest from cosmetic companies. They can survive the full power of the Sun for 18 months, so knowing more could lead to new ingredients for sunscreen.

Living organisms surviving in open space supports the idea of 'panspermia' -- life spreading from one planet to another, or even between solar systems.

It seems possible that organisms could colonize planets by hitching rides on asteroids. ESA is probing this intriguing theory further on future Station missions with different samples.

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Lichen Can Survive in Space: Space Station Research Sheds Light On Origin of Life (Original Post) bananas Jun 2012 OP
Interesting. I think Terence McKenna said something to that effect decades ago... drokhole Jun 2012 #1

drokhole

(1,230 posts)
1. Interesting. I think Terence McKenna said something to that effect decades ago...
Wed Jun 27, 2012, 11:29 PM
Jun 2012

...but concerning "pure" fungi/mushrooms. This is all I could find, but I thought he elaborated on it more elsewhere:



And Paul Stamets, arguably the world's foremost mycologist, has likened the mycelial network that pervades throughout soil to a neural network of the "Gaian consciousness":

PAUL STAMETS: MUSHROOMS, REALITY AND NATURE
http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewvideo/27233/Paul_Stamets__Mushrooms__Reality_and_Nature/

Mycelial Network:



Neurons:

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