Project Hail Mary

by Andy Weir

“We don’t know. But if it breeds like algae does, at about that same speed, climatologists are saying Earth’s temperature could drop ten to fifteen degrees.”

The kids stared at me, awestruck. Why had their parents not explained this to them? Probably because they didn’t understand it themselves.

“According to your notes, there were one hundred and seventy-four living Astrophage cells in the sample. And you killed one yesterday, so we’re down to a hundred and seventy-three.”

I thought they were worried about them reproducing like algae, but they aren't reproducing at all?

“Are all Russians crazy?” “Yes,” he said with a smile. “It is the only way to be Russian and happy at the same time.” “That’s…dark.” “That’s Russian