SIEMENS

Computer log of the international Boundless Research Space Station (BRSS), Head of Station Desmond Blacc: We have a visitor today, the world-renowned microbiologist Prof. Aleksandr Miller. He has just joined us via hologram from the Russian “city of science” Skolkovo, but we’re still waiting for the voice connection to be established. We are confident that Professor Miller will confirm that we are standing on the threshold of a new era of research. I would like to explain exactly why we think so. Three months ago our space probe “Scienceflight” docked for the first time at BRSS after flying through the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. We then made a sensational discovery. Adhering to the probe’s surface were dust particles containing components of microorganisms. Had we found signs of extraterrestrial life? We immediately sent a sample to our “Microcosm” research module. There we can carry out research under zero gravity conditions while our main section rotates and creates an artificial gravitational force to protect us from muscular and bone atrophy — a safety measure that would have been impossible ten years ago.

But to get back to our “Microcosm”: Our Chinese partners are using it to carry out biomedical research. Together with a research network consisting of scientists at U.S. and European universities, in recent years they have used protein analysis under microgravity conditions to discover completely new classes of biomarkers for the early detection of diseases and to develop new substances for cancer therapy. They received the Nobel Prize for this work. Their success shows how gigantic amounts of knowledge can be generated within an international network of this kind and applied in a targeted fashion.

That’s an advantage from which we benefit here every day. We’re also working on minimizing the potential for cultural misunderstanding. I intend to institute a stronger requirement for researchers to participate in virtual intercultural training courses — even if these courses only consist of lessons in how to prepare space rations. But joking aside, I wanted to tell you about the microbes. Our researchers are very excited about this incredible discovery. They have analyzed the microbes’ DNA fragments and discussed them with our Russian specialists in biochemistry, but they did not initially come to any definite conclusion. They were extremely frustrated by this. Up here we’ve got some of the world’s best researchers in the area of innovative alloys, whose heat resistance made it possible for the first fusion power station on Earth to begin operating two years ago. We’ve also got first-class scientists in the area of bone growth and the structure of cell skeletons. Together with the global research network of universities, research organizations, and companies, we are answering many of the questions that mankind is concerned with today — the growing scarcity of raw materials, climate protection, and the health problems of our aging world population.

But we were simply unable to find an acceptable answer to the question of what kind of life form we had discovered. That’s why we sent a microbe sample to Skolkovo on a supply ship of the Circinus class, a successor of the space shuttle that was jointly developed by the U.S., Russia, and China. There, the microbe was supposed to be assessed under the supervision of Professor Miller. Would we be able to combat disease even more effectively with the help of these tiny creatures, for example? Or might they help us to discover new sources of energy? These were the questions we were asking here at BRSS. My Scottish colleague James Farquharson made a rather cheeky comment at the time. He claimed to be certain that these were merely microorganisms from the Earth that were leading us in the wrong direction. I couldn’t help betting him a bottle of fine whisky that he was wrong, and I expect to win it as soon as Professor Miller tells us his conclusion. Right now I can see a cross-section of the microbe being projected as a hologram in front of him. All we need now is the voice connection… Ah, I can hear something now.”

“Kkkrrzzz…hello-krrzzz… Hello, BRSS, can you hear me now? This is Aleksandr Miller from Skolkovo. After weeks of research, discussions, and analyses we were able to successfully address your inquiry. Your sample does in fact contain previously unknown microbes. Actually, I’d prefer to say ‘generally’ unknown microbes. As you can see in the hologram in front of me, they are in some respects different from the forms of life that are known to us here on Earth, but nonetheless they have one factor in common with them. They originated on Earth. However, we estimate their age to be at least 500 million years. This ultraresistant species was probably catapulted into space at one point by the impact of a meteorite. Despite its earthly origins, this discovery is very interesting, because it contains some gene sequences that were previously unknown to us. They could certainly have applications in biotechnical industry or in the field of energy technology. We would like to establish research projects in these areas in cooperation with you. Some of our colleagues from Princeton, Shanghai, Bangalore, and Skolkovo are already set to begin. We’re also certain of receiving financial support from the international research association of the United Nations. You will receive the DNA analyses, including the protein structure and cell configuration, in the next few days. Can we count on your cooperation?”

“Professor Miller, this is Desmond Blacc speaking for the entire team. We’re thrilled about this proposal for a new cooperative project without boundaries, and we’ll be glad to participate. We’ll be in touch with you. End of message! Entry in the computer log: I guess I owe Farquharson a bottle of the very best Scotch whisky.”