Why 'Conan the Bacterium' is So Strong

The bacterium can withstand extreme levels of radiation. Here's why.

An organism nicknamed Conan the Bacterium for surviving otherwise lethal limits of radiation appears to be able to create a substance that gives it extraordinary abilities to survive.

The findings, published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, describe how three components found in the cell of Deinococcus radiodurans, aka Conan the Bacterium, join forces to produce an antioxidant that is more resistant to radiation than researchers expected.

Beyond solving a question that has long stumped scientists, the findings also could lead us to innovations that might protect humans from radiation during deep space explorations--it's going to happen sooner or later--or radiological emergencies here on Earth.

To learn more about this research check out this story in NPR Shots.