This would be a cool origin story for astrophage (from Project Hail Mary, a fun & light sci fi read by the Martian guy)

There is a movie coming with Ryan Gosling, I sure hope they keep the spirit of the book and don't turn that into some bizarre hollywoodish cash grab

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mikea1 an hour ago | parent [-]

I think the Martian was adapted well from book to movie, so I have hope for this one. That said, compressing the entire story into a theatre runtime is tricky: I think it would be a win if only half of the character and relationship growth of the two ship bound protagonists comes through in the adaptation (because it was sooo good in the book!)

	▲	linhns 15 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		The Martian was well adapted as the story has an attention to scientific details, can’t say that for Project Hail Mary

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api an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

Also this is how the protomolecile from The Expanse feeds. It can absorb pretty much any radiation across the whole spectrum.

	▲	gradascent 5 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		I was thinking the same thing. That one accelerates its growth in the presence of radiation. But it also seeks out human flesh and brains to build its biomass intelligence blob, unfortunately.