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Baby Blood suckers in Outer Space

6/15/14. Baby Blood suckers in Outer Space. Principal Investigators: Julia Ellis, Kasia Kaputska , Gia LaSalle, Bianca Urbina, Lilyana Walsh. 2014 SSEP National Conference, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC, July 2-3, 2014.

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Baby Blood suckers in Outer Space

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  1. 6/15/14 Baby Bloodsuckers in Outer Space Principal Investigators: Julia Ellis, KasiaKaputska, Gia LaSalle, Bianca Urbina, Lilyana Walsh 2014 SSEP National Conference, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC, July 2-3, 2014

  2. Will microgravity prevent Aedes albopictusmosquitoes from developing into pupae? • Probably. • Mosquito larvae float to the surface to breathe and mature into pupae. • Without gravity, they lack a mechanism to float and so cannot breathe. Question and Answer (?)

  3. Hatching = 1 to 3 days Turning into an adult = 2 days Mosquitoes larvae breathing Turning into pupae = 5 to 10 days Mosquito Life Cycle

  4. Volume 1 includes: dry mosquito eggs and nutrients (brewer’s yeast and lab chow). • Volume 2 includes: water and air. • Volume 3 includes: fixative (10% neutral buffered formalin). • Preliminary experiments will be done to determine the proper amounts for all substances. Experimental Overview

  5. At launch, eggs will be dry. • When Clamp A is released, water will activate development. • Experiment will continue 9 days. • Then astronauts will release Clamp B to stop development and fix mosquitoes when they should have matured into pupae. • Compare results to ground truth experiment. Experimental Overview

  6. Mosquitoes can serve as food stock for crayfish and tilapia. In turn we can eat crayfish and tilapia. • In a journey to the stars, the astronauts might enjoy a break from dehydrated food. • (Besides, it’s cool. Mosquitoes in outer space seem rad.) Who Cares?

  7. It’s hard to envision a test tube of half water and half air in outer space • No up, down or sideways. • We think surface tension with the test tube will draw the water to the outside with the air stuck in the middle. Kind of like a water straw. • But unless the astronauts tell us, we won’t know for sure What’s it going to look like? Cooke, Rosa-lee. "Lesson 10: Properties of Water." Lesson 10: Properties of Water. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2014.

  8. Post Offices radiate packages. May kill all mosquitoes. • Potential solution: ship via Fed Ex. • Baker’s yeast consumes oxygen when exposed to water. That could deplete from the volume 2, suffocating all mosquitoes. • Potential solution: use brewer’s yeast and keep it dry with the eggs Volume 1. • Number of mosquitoes limited by amount of air. • Potential solution: increase Volume 2 by limiting amount of formalin in Volume 3. • Unknown unknowns. Potential Confounders

  9. Program coordinators: • Jim Flakker • Susan Rembetsy • The following Parent Teacher Organizations: • Governor Livingston • Columbia Middle School • Thomas P. Hughes Elementary School • Mountain Park School • William Woodruff • Mary Kay McMillin Special thanks to Professor of Biology, Livdahl of Clark University,Worcester, MA for eggs, nutrients and special guidance. Teacher Facilitator: Pamela Wilczynski

  10. Any Questions?

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