Bacteria survive one year on the outer shell of the ISS

Bacteria of genus Deinococcus are known for their ability to survive even the harshest conditions. Deinococcus radiodurans, for example, is barely bothered by radiation. If a person receives a dose of 10 Gy, he will die within one to two weeks (as happened to the victims of atomic bombings). Deinococcus radiodurans, in contrast, will begin to gradually sicken starting at 10,000 Gy, but will then recover. At 17,500 Gy, a third of the population will still survive; individual specimens can surv...