Space Not the Place for Rat Race
In space, no one can hear you squeak. Scientific progress has claimed the lives of 45 baby rats aboard the space shuttle Columbia, five times the expected death toll, after the mothers of these experimental rodents refused to suckle their young. It's a pretty serious blow, not least for the brain development tests astronauts were hoping to run. Now NASA is set to placate the fears of animal rights groups with an official rat death inquiry.
Nevertheless, the mission has made one great new discovery: "It turns out you can actually snore in space," announced astronaut-physician Dave Williams. How do we know? Because, Williams admitted sheepishly, "I managed to make those noises myself." Never mind the squeaking -- in space, everyone can hear you snore.
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