Comments on: Bacteriophage: The Weirdest Looking Virus You’ve Ever Seen

By: Buzz

Buzz — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:47:11 +0000

The layering on the payload pod is an artifact of the SEM. Here’s a clearer visualization:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ofd_lgEymto&NR=1

I saw the first visualization of these over 30 years ago, making the headline a tad non sequitur. How many things have been a part of your life for thirty years that seem “weird?”

You want weird? Look at your ear.

By: The Monster's Lawyer

The Monster's Lawyer — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:13:26 +0000

That ain’t nothing. You should see the virus I picked up in the UK. Ugly Brits

By: Winston

Winston — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:08:50 +0000

The Andromeda strain. Excellent film, the original version anyway.

By: Boo-Man

Boo-Man — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:24:04 +0000

One might question the science behind this photo which looks more and more like a computer generated rendering every second. When looking at the above photograph and comparing it to one that shows a number of the bacteriophages attached to a cell, here we have a whole bunch of them “in action” with curved stems. I highly doubt that a bacteriophage would “stand at attention” as such. In fact, one might study the entire process of how these “electron photographs” are made.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Phage.jpg

Oh, I see Andycatus just proved my point already.

By: andycatus

andycatus — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:12:45 +0000

#8 You win a prize because you are almost right.

If you read the article the picture shown is a scanning electron micrograph of a man made model (ie non working) of just the shape of a real virus. Probably fabricated on a silicon substrate.

By: Boo-Man

Boo-Man — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:09:50 +0000

One of the densest natural sources for phages and other viruses is sea water.

(they are the cause of global warming mutations like Al Gore)

They have been used for over 60 years as an alternative to antibiotics in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

(so it’s an antibiotic)

They are seen as a possible therapy against multi-drug resistant strains of many bacteria.

(so it’s a natural antibiotic)

The relationship between bacteriophages and their bacterial hosts is very important in the context of the food fermentation industry.

(they do dinner together quite often)

By: soundwash

soundwash — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:22:41 +0000

#11 -lol (in a sad sort of way)

that was the first thing that came to mind when i saw it. (ie military research)

-s

By: gal416

gal416 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:46:05 +0000

Defense Department test #42 of 120.

By: Jopa

Jopa — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:52:24 +0000

Viruses are the weirdos of nature… I mean, look at it!
LOL

By: Macbandit

Macbandit — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:27:55 +0000

Looks like a face F@&cker.

By: noname

noname — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:31:08 +0000

This looks like a defect on a silicon wafer.

I’ve seen random defects that look toilets, faces, baseballs ….

By: Special Ed

Special Ed — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:25:52 +0000

It might be a Jewish virus, it looks like an upside down dreidel.

By: honeyman

honeyman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:24:42 +0000

If it were bigger it would make a dandy mike stand for Curry.

By: a schtick in your eye

a schtick in your eye — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:23:32 +0000

It’s a Big Mac with legs.

By: Get a Job

Get a Job — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:51:18 +0000

Rather amazing looks like a sandwich on steroids or perhaps my old boss