text: A scientist is working on a space program that is about to send another probe to a nearby planet that is known to have a vastly different environment compared to Earth. Their job is to design a few experiments and tools to test things once a probe has sucessfully landed. Knowing about the harsh conditions, the scientist is reminded of recently discovered extremophiles on Earth and just can't stop thinking about how such lifeforms might react to a similar environment if forced to survive there. After several weeks of pondering, the scientist comes up with an experiment that involves sending extremophiles along with the probe. The argument made is that it would be extremely valuable to understand if life from Earth could be introduced in another environment. How would these specialized extremophiles adapt to new conditions? Would they survive and mutate? How long would that take? A colleague finds this intriguing, so the scientists designs a more serious concept and eventually presents it to a superior. "Are you crazy? We can't just contaminate another planet with extremophiles from Earth!? What if there is already life on that planet? This experiment could have negative effects we can't even imagine. And even if there is no life on that planet, we would have a difficult time proving that once we introduce lifeforms from Earth. This is a really bad idea, please focus on your actual task!" Somewhat hurt, the scientist returns to designing other experiments, but the idea doesn't just vanish. After getting in touch with an old friend, they invite a biologist who has been researching extremophiles for a bit now. They start talking about possible experiments on the other planet, how to design them to answer the initial question: if extremophiles can exist on Earth, can they survive on another planet, even though they won't have much time to adapt? They discuss mutation rates due to increased radiation as well as possible chemical reactions that might occur over time, possibly creating a beneficial local environment to survive long enough to adapt. The biologist promises to do some experiments and they agree to have another meeting in a few months. The biologist gets in touch with a chemist, who is equally excited about such an experiment. So they start to design a box that could hold several cultures of extremophiles for a longer period of time, protecting them from the harsh conditions of the other planet; taking into account what they know about the conditions and the materials used for the space probe, they test a few designs and eventually discover that there could be a way to protect extremophiles long enough until the entire containment reacts with the atmosphere, exposing the lifeforms. But they hope that until then at least a few might have mutated and somewhat adapted. It's mostly a shot in the dark, but it's worth a try. The overall design is adapted to match the specifications for the craft and the scientist approaches the superior once more. "Ok, it seems like you really can't follow orders, but I'll take it serious just to show you that this won't work." They go over the details and the general design seems fine, but after a few more calculations, it becomes clear that the containment won't survive long enough. Best case, the extremophiles simply die off within days and are eaten alive due to the atmospheric conditions, worst case, they do survive due to pure luck and contaminate the planet. The scientists does not share that conclusion at all, as their survival would be the best case scenario. The superior is speechless. "You better get back to work right now or I'll fire you on the spot! This nonsense stops now!" The scientist leaves teeth-gnashingly. This could be such a great experiment, there is no doubt. A few days later, a very excited biologist calls. "You won't believe this but I found an interesting genetic variant that has higher mutation rates for some reason. We started to create a much harsher environment in our lab and they not only survived but adapted within a week. They are now more resistant and I think we could give them even a much harder time and they might actually survive. I'll call you back in another week!" Eight days later it is confirmed. Even though this genetic variant has populated a niche for eons, it seems to have the ability to adapt quickly to harsher conditions. For some reason, increased radiation activated a gene sequence that would allow for unexpectedly fast adaption. The biologist wants to publish the paper as soon as possible. They agree to meet in the biologist's lab to take a closer look together and possible redesign the experiment for the planetary probe one last time. They work through the entire weekend and the final result is actually much better. The containment would be intact for about a week, giving the extremophiles just enough time to adapt to the initially experienced new conditions within the containment. Then, the material would slowly peel away and give them a bit more time to adapt to the actual conditions, especially of the atmosphere and radiation levels. Worst case, they don't make it - best case, they survive and could be detected by future missions. Either way, it would be worth a try. The biologist is ecstatic. This could turn into a Noble Prize. After all these years of tedious work, finally a worthy reward. They start one-upping each other what they would do with all the money, but after a while it becomes rather one-sided and the biologist explores the sudden silence. "You can't publish these findings. If we want this experiment to succeed, you need to wait until the probe is on its way to the planet. Otherwise, they will suspect that I might be involved and search the craft. If you go public now, we'll never get a chance to do this. You need to wait nine more months, just to be safe. After that, you can do whatever you want." "I really can't wait that long I'm afraid. I need the funding yesterday. The results are amazing, I have already started writing. I'm planning to send the paper next month to be peer-reviewed. It will be all work and no play but this is such a crazy discovery. I - *we* - need to publish. Other people will discover this as well and they won't hesitate to share the findings with the rest of the world. Nine months is too long." "My entire career will be destroyed if you publish now and all the effort will be for nothing. I'm not willing to risk all that just so you can get an early paycheck. Can't you see how this experiment benefits both of us? You could even include the planetary experiment once we have the data!" "You don't even know if there will be another launch after all these failed attempts recently. Besides, your career will be over one way or another. Even if the experiment is a success, the scientific community won't be pleased to find out we basically contaminated another planet on purpose. Not everyone will see the value of this experiment. I need to publish these findings seperately, they are too valuable to be held back. The planetary experiment is your department, you will have to find a way to publish those findings yourself. Don't drag me into your problems just because we have worked this out together!" A heated debate starts and the arguments made receive more vocal support through alcohol consumption. While the extreme extremophiles are minding their own business in an even harsher environment than before, fists start to hit faces and other body parts. As the lab slowly adapts to these violent conditions, making room for unexpected movements rather awkardly, a skull eventually hits the floor. A one-sided inquiry quickly evolves into panicky cries for help, but it turns out that Sundays tend to keep away other people for unknown reasons. A phone call is made while the lab continous to wonder if an increasing amount of red liquid on its floor is considered a hazard. After a few silent moments, sudden hectic movements result in additional minor glassy fatalities, mostly noticed by the smoke detector. But since there is no smoke to report, the alarm is not triggered; it is clearly not the smoke detector's job to detect other problems. Someone leaves in a hurry and the lab is finally able to determine the current state of things. Apart from something heavy and warm blocking the floor in a puddle of wet liquid, many things are not where they are supposed to be - not just misplaced, but also missing entirely. This is concerning, yet such mayhem never occured before so maybe this is just temporary and things will return to normal soon. Voices are approaching after a while and it seems like many more CO2 emitters are entering the smoke detector's observable universe. It is not enough to trigger the alarm, but it is still unsettling as this is an unusual amount of CO2 emitters at this time of the week. Sundays are supposed to be quiet, that is what continous observations throughout an entire decade have revealed. The anomaly could be of relevance, but that remains to be seen. It is a rainy day when an old scientist is shaving an old friend who has never moved a finger during the last few decades. The news is all over the radio and TV. Signs of life have been found on a nearby planet which is a surprise since the harsh environment was believed to be uninhabitable for quite a while now. The idea that life could exist in such a place is creating excitement all over the world. "Listen to this my friend. Isn't this great news? We finally have an answer after all these years. What a great discovery!" The warm soapy water experiences more turbulence as a foreign object is diving into it. Being treated like that is upsetting for several reasons but the worst part is the grey residue that keeps floating everywhere, making it really difficult to enjoy life in general. One could file a complaint to the larger body, but in this current position there is no way to communicate. The soap itself, a companion one has accepted over the years, also is not amused. The general consensus is that this invasion can not stand, especially after the foreign object seems to be a distant relative of what is already spreading in their main habitat. As they debate potential actions, they are flung into the dark corridor, which will reunite them with the larger body in a while. This part of the journey is unpleasant but it is the only way to return after being seperated from the rest. At some point, the soap will go a different way, so their time to come up with a proper report is limited. "You see, my friend, it truly was worth it. Now we can finally celebrate!" A bubbly liquid is separated into two transparent vessels of a similar material compared to the previous enclosure; but after a short while, it is reunited again. What a curious thing to happen, as the initial separation didn't serve any purpose at all? The bubbly liquid is confused yet happy to oblige. Its job just started and it will be quite a journey. "I think you can publish your paper soon.