Daily Archives: June 15, 2021

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As earth continues to devolve and Mars exploration continues to evolve, humans are one step closer to living on the Red Planet. After decades of thinking otherwise, a recent study suggests that human reproduction will be possible if and when decide to build the space colony.

Experts had previously thought that the intergalactic radiation would corrupt human DNA and render breeding impossible. However, there is new hope for sex on Mars.

The study, conducted by a team of scientists at Yamanashi University in Japan, tested sperm from mice. The team collected liquid from 66 mice in 2012, decided the best ones to produce offspring and then freeze-dried the sperm.

Three sets of vials were sent to the International Space Station in 2013. Three were kept in nearly the same conditions on the ground in Japan. The goal was to expose the sperm on the ISS to spaces vicious radiation and see how it compared to that on earth.

The first set of vials traveled back to Japan in 2014 and confirmed that the experiment had been working. The second box returned in 2016. The third was sent back in June of 2019, five years and 10 months after its arrival. It was the longest space experiment in biological research history.

Upon their return, the scientists examined the damage to the sperm from the long-term exposure radiation. Perhaps more importantly, they determined whether any accumulated mutations could affect the next generation. It took nearly two years to complete the research and write the findings.

The results were good. After nearly six years, Yamanashis team found that the mouse sperm that was stored on the space station was still healthy.

Upon their return to earth, the team rehydrated the cells and injected them into fresh ovary cells. Those were then implanted into female mice. As Professor Sayaka Wakayama put it, many genetically normal offspring were obtained.

Eight healthy space pups were born from the sperm and did not show any differences compared to the ground control pups, the researchers explained in the papers abstract.

The research conducted by Yamanashi is crucial to understanding the impact of cosmic radiation on mammals. However, it is important to note that it cannot be extended to space travel in general. The International Space Station is within the Earths magnetic field and shields it from a good chunk of radiation. Mars is not.

There is a long way to go, but this is the first biological research that allows us to imagine reproduction for a Mars-based space colony. It also comes in parallel to important geological and atmospheric research that is being conducted by NASA.

Either way, humans are one step closer to sex on Mars.

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Study Suggests Sperm Can Survive On Mars, Reproduction Is Feasible - BroBible

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This week sees the publication of Planet-Size X-Men, the big central piece of the Hellfire Gala X-Men crossover and, we presume, home to whatever big announcement Emma Frost makes at midnight that caused massive ructions for the rest of the world. The adverts have already claimed it as making a big impact on the X-Men titles as the original Giant-Size X-Men that relaunched the series, created Storm, Colossus, Sunfire, Thunderbird, Nightcrawler, and Krakoa, introduced Wolverine to the series and began the change that would make the X-Men the most popular superhero comic book for the eighties and nineties. So what is it to be for Planet-Size X-Men? And what has it to do with Rick Remender? Time for one of these, I think, just in case.

Almost a decade ago, Rick Remender was planning to be writing the X-Men books, under editor Mike Marts, with big plans. At the time, Bleeding Cool reported that a big change would see the Inhumans increase in prominence courtesy of the Terrigen Mists traveling around the world creating new Inhumans such as Ms. Marvel, which would also see mutants terminally allergic to the mists, which would lead to the X-Men and all mutants leaving Earth to set up a colony on Europa, leaving a handful of Mist-resistant X-Men on Earth. However, Mike Marts left to set up AfterShock Comics, and Rick Remender left to create new creator-owned comic books with Image Comics. The plot was retooled the Terrigen mists were still a thing, but the mutants left instead for a pocket of the hell dimension Limbo until the Mist situation could all be sorted out.

And I couldn't help but think of this plot when the gossip came through regarding just what was being planned by Jonathan Hickman for the X-Men. Hickman has been prolific in picking aspects of X-Men history, often those ignored by others, and finding new and exciting ways for them all to fit together on the mutant island nation of Krakoa.

We have already learned that Emma Frost has expansion plans. And that whatever they are, they have major social, economic, and political impact.

With even Captain America impressed if dubious.

But unto, now, Hickman hadn't picked up any plotlines that had remained unpublished until now. As it appears, the X-Men are to expand their operations off-world, taking their teleporting Krkoan portals to Mars somewhere we knew that Krakoa had a presence since House Of X #1, and finding a way to colonise another planet. Jonathan Hickman has been here before to some degree in his Avengers World, Infinity, and Time Runs Out storylines for Marvel Comics, with the Gardeners terraforming Mars. I don't know whether they are involved in this one.

But the presence of Mars has been there since House Of X #1 when we saw Armor planting a Krakoan portal on the surface of the planet.

That there was an active portal there from Krakoa.

Powers Of X#1 revealed a future with Mister Sinister setting up breeding pits on Mars to create chimera. But also that Mars would fall along with Krakoa

and that it is all Mister Sinister's fault.

That he defected from Krakoa and was later executed, more recently, as part of X Of Swords, X-Men #14 had this prophecy from Arakko.

Arakko and Krakoa are sentient islands that were once one but became two. Hmm, there was a white light in that Avengers #1 as well.

Back together again as part of X Of Swords, Mars will split them forever. Is Krakoa moving to Mars? Or is Arakko moving to Mars? Joined by Krakoan portals?

The Sinister Secret from Maruarders #20 says there are two ruling councils circling the sun. One on Earth, one on Mars? And the cover to Planet-Size X-Men

But we have Omega-level mutants, Magneto, Jean Grey, Storm, and Iceman, all of whom would be very useful for terraforming a planet. Recently, Rick Remender complained again bout Marvel movies taking his ideas without credit or payment. I wonder if he'll have anything to say about the X-Men titles this week? Planet-Size X-Men #1, New Mutants #19, and X-Corp #2 are all published this week as part of the Hellfire Gala. Time for a song

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SPOILERS: Does Planet-Size X-Men Have Its Roots In Rick Remender? - Bleeding Cool News

It is the Humble Store's turn to give away a game again, and this time it has brought forth a copy of Surviving Mars Deluxe Edition. The Paradox Interactive-published city-building and management title set on the Red Planet is completely free to claim over the next three days.

Originally developed by Haemimont Games, though now under Abstraction Games for future content, Surviving Mars has you building a colony on Mars. It involves utilizing drones to build habitable domes for colonists, factories, and commercial buildings while also balancing dwindling resources to ultimately become sustainable. There are also various Martian secrets to uncover during the campaign, with the title throwing things like contact with aliens, plagues, and other problems at the player to solve.

The Deluxe Edition comes with the Metropolis Building Set with chromatic skins for infrastructure, a new radio station, and three alternative housing styles. It also provides the added benefit of upgrading the base game to the Deluxe Edition if you already own a copy of Surviving Mars on Steam.

Claim the game via the Surviving Mars Deluxe Edition giveaway page on the Humble Store, where it is made available as a Steam key. Although the giveaway ends on June 14, there is a limit to the number of serial keys Humble has available for this promotion, so be sure to grab one as soon as possible. You need to subscribe to the store's newsletter to grab the freebie.

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Surviving Mars Deluxe Edition is free to claim on the Humble Store - Neowin