"Conan the Bacterium"

It's all about a microbe: a tough one ;) Deinococcus Radiodurans is then name of a bacterium species that can withstand extremely strong levels of radiation. Scientists found out it can survive conditions of radioactive exposure and chemical toxicity that proved to be lethal to any other lifeform. Hence the nickname - Conan the Bacterium - after the famous fiction character - Conan the Barbarian.

Some interesting facts:

• Radiodurans was discovered in 1956 by A.W. Andersonand and belongs to a family of microorganisms, called the 'extremophiles': bugs which survive in harsh environments. The Heroic-Fantasy champion, was born in 1932, and is the brain child of American writer Robert E. Howard. His adventures take place on the Hyborian - legendary - continent.
  

• While the barbarians are now an extinguished race (or are they ?), the extremophiles are a 'growing' category. In fact it is difficult to estimate the number of species, but it is thought that only 1% of Earth's micro-organisms have been identified so far. So there may be many many more of these bacteria species out there. In fact there are lots of them "in here" too. The human gut bacterial flora is estimated to around 500 species. Among them, the formidable Helicobacter Pylori, which lives in the highly acidic environment of the stomach.

• Whereas Conan the Barbarian remains unvanquished, its bacterial counterpart proved to be a wimp: although it can handle radiation, it doesn't survive some common chemicals, like the solvent toluene. The explanation is simple: although its DNA protection mechanisms allow it to repair its genetic material - damaged by radiation - far more efficiently than humans, Radiodurans is still a living organism, so exposure to specific chemical substances can destoy it. Conan the Bacterium still holds the title of 'the world's most resistant bacterium' in the Guiness Book of Records.
  

• Some scientists are striving to develop a genetically improved 'Super Conan' bacterium, and to use it for cheap cleanup of nuclear waste sites. Others, more modestly study Deinococcus Radiodurans in order to understand the origins of life on Earth.

A few links:
An article in Slate.fr (2009 FR)
CNRS paper (2006 FR)
Daniel Drezner's blog (2004 EN)
An article in bio-medicine.org (2000 EN)

Nuclear Power : German electronics manufacturer Siemens prefers the Rusians over the French

It's the end of the cooperation between Areva and Siemens !

Power Engineering International


The Germans from Siemens A.G. have participated in a joint venture with French nuclear energy giant Areva for the past 8 years. The joint company - called Areva NP - was created in 2001, with 66% capital from Areva and 34% from Siemens.

Among the products commercialized by Areva NP are the third-generation EPR (European Pressurized Reactor) nuclear reactors.

Two of these reactors are under construction - one at Olkiluoto, Finland - the other one at Flamanville, France. Besides, Areva has signed with the Chinese electric operator CGNPC for 2 supplementary EPRs, to be located in Taishan, in the southern province of Quangdong. The deal, signed in November 2007, is worth some €8 billion ($12 billion).


Siemens will keep its 34% participation in Areva NP until 2012, but in reality, the divorce is already consumed. France has opposed an offer by Siemens to increase its participation in Areva NP. The Sarkozy government favoured concentration of French industrial actors around Areva. Bouygues and Alstom where among the government's candidates for a 'political' merger to create a nuclear power trust 100% national.


This decision prompted Siemens to turn to the russian nuclear agency, Rosatom, for a new partnership. Russian nuclear industry went a thorough overhaul in 2008, which allows Rosatom to offer a full range of solutions for nuclear power : nuclear fuel production, reactor building, operational maintenance and other services, reactor decommissioning and nuclear waste treatment.


A great setback for French nuclear industry. "A heckuva job", Mr. Sarkozy !