Google contest could put water bears in space

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/water bear.jpg” caption=”A Space Lab contest experiment developed by three integrated science students would examine the effects of microgravity on tardigrades, also known as water bears. Photo by Willow Gabriel and Bob Goldstein.”]Three students in the Integrated Science Program are hoping an experiment they designed
on Earth will earn them accolades by being performed in space.

Team AquaUrsa – made up of Jesse Bettencourt, Alexandra Kasper and Mackenzie Richardson – is one of three Canadian teams left in Google's YouTube Space Lab competition.

The contest tasks students with developing science experiments that could be conducted in space. Two winning entries will be performed approximately 400 kilometres above Earth on the International Space Station and will be streamed live on YouTube.

AquaUrsa's experiment would examine the effects of microgravity on tardigrades, or water bears. Tardigrades are the only organisms known to be able to survive exposure to outer space.

Six regional winners will be selected in February and will be awarded a trip to Washington, D.C., where they will be able to experience a simulated weightless environment.

Contest winners will also travel to Star City, Russia, where they will take part in cosmonaut training.

To view the AquaUrsa entry and vote for its experiment, click here.

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[img_inline align="right" src="http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/water bear.jpg" caption="A Space Lab contest experiment developed by three integrated science students would examine the effects of microgravity on tardigrades, also known as water bears.  Photo by Willow Gabriel and Bob Goldstein."]Three students in the Integrated Science Program are hoping an experiment they designed <br />
on Earth will earn them accolades by being performed in space. <br />
<br />
Team AquaUrsa - made up of Jesse Bettencourt, Alexandra Kasper and Mackenzie Richardson - is one of three Canadian teams left in Google&#039;s YouTube Space Lab competition. <br />
<br />
The contest tasks students with developing science experiments that could be conducted in space. Two winning entries will be performed approximately 400 kilometres above Earth on the International Space Station and will be streamed live on YouTube. <br />
<br />
AquaUrsa&#039;s experiment would examine the effects of microgravity on tardigrades, or water bears. Tardigrades are the only organisms known to be able to survive exposure to outer space.  <br />
<br />
Six regional winners will be selected in February and will be awarded a trip to Washington, D.C., where they will be able to experience a simulated weightless environment. <br />
<br />
Contest winners will also travel to Star City, Russia, where they will take part in cosmonaut training. <br />
<br />
To view the AquaUrsa entry and vote for its experiment, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/spacelab/?x=c2tpcGludHJvPTEmcGFnZT1ob21lJmZyYWdtZW50PWNvbXBldGl0aW9uJmFtcDtleHBlcmltZW50cyZhbXA7dmlkZW9zJmFtcDt2aWRlb2lkPWEyWUlQa0RMN2Ew">click here</a>.

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