The "real" Andromeda Strain?

[smokey the elder]

Thirty-odd years ago Michael Crichton wrote a book and a movie called The Andromeda Strain . A satellite infected with an alien germ fell out of orbit in a remote part of Arizona. This germ killed everyone in a village except for a baby and an old man. The handling of the contaminated satellite as portrayed was not far off of what would be done today. It was a feast for a science geek; they showed ultra-clean environments, high-tech instruments, etc. The bug could only exist in a narrow range of blood pH; the baby's was too basic; the old man's was too acidic. I think the bug was killed with vinegar or something.

Cool movie, it's sometimes on TV. I hope to get the DVD if it ever comes out.

[Ginger's Mom]

Wow, that is really interesting. I will have to try to remember to keep checking for updates to this.