Miners are aiming to tap into cosmic resources. A tiny satellite shot into space in 2023, led by AstroForge, kicked off a big mission: Mining asteroids. The plan did hit some snags, but it’s part of a growing trend of companies wanting to mine space rocks — providing easier access to materials and potentially reducing environmental damage to our beloved blue-green planet that we call home, Undark Magazine reports.

Why go so far away? Asteroids are rich with metals like platinum and cobalt, which are found in electronics and batteries. While we might excavate them on Earth, asteroids have them in higher concentrations making them easier to extract — and these metals can open doors to advancing in clean technology to create “platinum-based batteries” that have lasting storage that can be used in “electric vehicles and energy-storage systems.”

Past attempts at space mining have failed, but companies have risen to the challenge. The cost of launching rockets was a king’s ransom, which made it hard for companies to turn a profit. There were also no clear rules about space mining: Whether it was legal or how to do it responsibly — which made investors hesitant to take on this venture. TransAstra, Karman+, and AstroForge are taking another swing at it as reusable rocket systems are more available alongside improvements in materials science and manufacturing techniques.

Not so fast. Before they dig into space there are some things that need addressing. Space mining could potentially add to pollution and create more junk in orbit — a study suggested setting aside parts of space, like we do with nature reserves here, to protect our cosmic backyard. Also the concept of establishing rules where everyone agrees on how to mine and to take care of the environment is essential.

If you pick your cookie off the floor in five seconds it’s still good, right? You could be wrong, tells us National Geographic. Science has revealed that the five seconds rule relies on how moist the item of food is, the surface it dropped on, and how long it stayed there.

Duration of exposure is paramount. The longer food is exposed to a surface, the more bacteria transfer occurs, according to this study published in 2021. That doesn’t exactly mean we get a 5-second head start against the germs, but it does suggest the rule holds some water.

Wet food vs dry food. Food scientists, Donald Schaffner and Robyn C. Miranda, conducted a study that showed bacteria transfer was highly dependent on the level of moisture in the food. They tested watermelon (wet food) against bread (dry food) and found that the watermelon picked up more bacteria.

What’s the verdict? Based on the scientific input, use your good judgment. There should be some evaluation of the situation and what potential bacteria might be picked up. Food scientist, Paul Dawson, who conducted this study, said “Ninety-nine percent of the time, it’s probably safe, but If you’re in a hospital and you drop something, you probably don’t want to eat it.”

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