https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070510151916.htm

https://phys.org/news/2010-04-microbes-natural-asphalt-lake.html

https://www.livescience.com/1515-asphalt-munching-bacteria-discovered.html

The weird little bastards are eating metal and petrochemicals!

As a bonus, here are fungi that eat hard ionizing radiation, including in the radioactive core of the Chernobyl NPP

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiotrophic_fungus

We're gonna make it. Well, maybe not us, but someone is definitely gonna make it.

  • BodyBySisyphus [he/him]
    ·
    4 months ago

    The sentient lichen archaeologists are going to have so much fun in 10 million years.

    • Smeagolicious [they/them]
      ·
      4 months ago

      This is why the whole "immortality is a curse" shit is cope. I'd fucking love to see evolution of life and (maybe) civilization over millions of years

      • Frank [he/him, he/him]
        ·
        4 months ago

        Right? "Immortality is a curse" is the most skill issue idea. As long as your body held together relatively well I'd be thrilled to live forever. There's so much to do!

          • Smeagolicious [they/them]
            ·
            4 months ago

            Skill issue tbh. Using my immortal wisdom of untold ages I would simply not get stuck

            • cosecantphi [he/him]
              ·
              4 months ago

              Eventually we all get stuck in the endless black abyss of the post heat death universe

              • Kuori [she/her]
                ·
                4 months ago

                eh sure but it's that or oblivion so why not?

                  • Kuori [she/her]
                    ·
                    4 months ago

                    it's how i've always felt about immortality. sure it's a gamble, but at least it's a shot at something interesting happening

                    even if you have to wait for the next universe to be born or whatever

        • ShimmeringKoi [comrade/them]
          ·
          4 months ago

          We've never been closer. If the sharks and jellyfish and crocodiles can do it, why shouldn't we?

          Incidentally does anyone have a good news portal for research papers about this kind of thing? I'm trying to get up to date and inspired on the cellular regeneration/genetic manipulation fields. There's so much we can do and it's always been my dream to do it, and I think reading the real thing will really help me drag my adhd ass through school.

      • BodyBySisyphus [he/him]
        ·
        4 months ago

        I've lived 10,000 human lifetimes, patiently lying in wait for the next sentient species to arise. Now I will go forth, mentor them, and poison their academic research forever by explaining that a bidet was for washing one's face.