On Time!

Ah...being back in the regular routine is good...jambalaya for dinner and movie night at home with Ken.

Perfect.


Word of the Day Wednesday, January 20, 2010

lacuna

\luh-KYOO-nuh\ , noun;

plural lacunae \luh-KYOO-nee\ or lacunas

1. A blank space; a missing part; a gap.
2. (Biology) A small opening, depression, or cavity in an anatomical structure.

The physician adjusted the focus of his presentation on the screen on the back wall of the room and cleared this throat, "We were, of course, very surprised when the Department of Defense brought the alien species into our laboratory for autopsy, seeing as how we are primarily a research lab with a focus on biological assays. However, it quickly became apparent that protein as well as nucleic acid analysis would be a vital part of a through report of the specimen."

He switched the slide on the screen to a photo showing an image of the alien from the waist up. "As you can see, the alien had been wounded fatally in an escape attempt from our security forces. Sustaining blunt and traumatic trama to the chest and the head. Incidentally, each of these injuries would have been fatal to the alien independent of each other.

Once we had started the autopsy we immediately noted the numerous lacunae in the body of the alien. Most of the cavities turned out to be part of one long tube and appears to be part of a digestion and excrement system. Some, such as the lacuna in the middle of the abdomen, we are still puzzled about and are in the process of performing further experiments.

We were shocked to learn that this alien species has almost no exoskeleton. The primary defense against microorganisms appears to be a thin membrane made up mostly of collagen. Almost more shocking than the lack of an exoskeleton, is the meager endoskeleton protecting most of the vital organs.

Upon probing the thoracic wound, resulting from the attack by our guards, we found that one of his vital organs, a four chambered pump necessary for fluid and oxygen circulation, had been irreparably damaged. Interestingly, his inadequate protective endoskeleton actually fractured and punctured a necessary organ for oxygen exchange from the atmosphere.

At a molecular level all organic tissue in the alien is quite sensitive to radiation and proteases. Exposure to both, at relatively benign levels, quickly lead to apoptosis. After we had finished our laboratory analysis multiple live subjects were collected from the caves along the Balthium Cliffs and numerous studies were performed on the strength and durability of all the organic structures at the gross and molecular level. The details are quite fascinating, and Dr. Hskuki and I will be publishing our first of several papers next month.

However, let me turn the microphone over to our head of security who will outline our basic defense plan. Focusing primarily on the areas most vulnerable to attack on the alien species in the most cost efficient manner."

Dr. Plstzar collected his notes as the audience shuffled their brow plates, gossiping in muted hisses.

The lack of an exoskeleton on the alien had been intriguing. Especially in contrast to his own species which carried sixty percent of their body weight in organic carbon fiber armor. Clearly these aliens spent a significant calorie investment in maintaining their large valuable organs, but with very little protection. "They must be a very peaceful species," he thought to himself as the Director of the Department of Defense stood up.

But that just made it all the more baffling that this alien species would just show up and immediately start exporting raw materials without a trade agreement in place.