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ssugiya: transparent media developed by NASA (27. Feb 2004 07:32)

Hi, I am a biologist in Japan. I am curious whether anyone knows the composition of the gel that NASA developed to maintain and observe ant colonies in microgravity. I know that it is commericaly sold by an Italian company but would like to prepare some myself. I could not find any reports on NASA's reseach on Medline or in Biological Abstracts.
Shin Sugiyama

gonzobey: Hello ssugiya and wellcome! (27. Feb 2004 22:08)

I´m sorry but I don´t know the composition of the NASE Gel and I think that there are is nobody who could tell you becaus its secret. I heard that this kind of keeping ants is not very easy because the gel will fast mildew. Also I think its not very naturall and not hte best way to keep them.

Greetings
Bianca

The Antman: (28. Feb 2004 15:37)

I'm italian, but I've never heard about the company who sell this gel... Do you know its name?

ssugiya: (28. Feb 2004 17:05)

Hi Bianca, Antman
I was hoping that if it was developed by NASA that the information would be made public somewhere. I agree that it is
probably not the best way to keep ants but being transparent it does have certain attractive advantages.
I am considering trying an agar based gel. Using mold inhibitors it should be possible to prevent mold for several months.

The Italian company is: GLOBUS INTERNATIONAL
Reg. Pontelungo Inf. Via Burrone n.° 4 17031 Albenga - I

Shin

gonzobey: (29. Feb 2004 09:24)

Hello ssugiya!

I have another tip if you only search a nest, which you can look into. An Ytong or plaster nest is also one posibility to observe the behavior or brood caring, development of the brood, feeding of the queen.....

If you want to experiment with the gel, try it with a high sugar quota, in the food industry is often used as preservative and will also be eaten by the ants.

Greetings
Bianca

delete-3157: the famous gel!!! (13. Mär 2005 01:47)

well, i am in the middle of experimenting to find a right mixture to make some crystal gel.
yes agar agar is the main ingredient, now i have try to include some glucose and pipone too.
the reason i am trying to get this gel is not to keep my ants in it forever, i agree i don`t think this is very natural.
but i am doing a project ( digital arts) and for a week only i am trying to make a crystal clear gel, so the animation behind can be see at the same time.
so far!
no much sucess, i progress , but the gel is still not crystal clear, i think the reason why, is, i don`t really knows the exact quantity?
so far, the gel is semi clear, more like "Semen " colour ( no offence!!! :D )
the only time is crystal clear is too liquid?
maybe i should try to used only agar on his own, and no adds anything else.
i can always feed them the normal stuffs (insects, etc...)
i guess more water might do the trick i got few more months before i can
find the right amount to make it.
1 things i would says, is, the ants i have put in the gel so far i have made are doing very well, i try a new one tonight, we see, if they start digging..

if i cannot do it, at least i have find a way to make some extra gel water for the ants, as they don`t seems to be affected by it and have a test for it, of course, u must used the one , made for food standard.

god, would i love to knows how to make this bloody gel, crystal clear!
well if i succeed, i will let you knows.
herve=crowpied