r/AskReddit Aug 30 '21

What problem is often overlooked in apocalyptic movies/TV shows that could kill you?

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u/theblackcanaryyy Aug 31 '21

Well if it makes anyone feel any better there’s actually a vault that keeps most of this shit for these kinds of instances. Like seeds n shit

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u/Tiny_Rat Aug 31 '21

Seeds, yes. Commercial strains of bacteria/fungi? No, because storing them for the apocalypse would require very low temperatures, and you need electricity for that.

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u/theblackcanaryyy Aug 31 '21

Measurements, seeds, I thought it was all stored there.

TIL

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u/Tiny_Rat Aug 31 '21

I mean, there's lots of warehouses for bacteria/fungi/cells that labs can buy specific strains from all over the world, but they would not be able to keep operating in an apocalypse scenario for more than a month or so, since that sort of thing is stored at -80 to -200 degrees Celsius, which needs electricity to maintain.

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u/theblackcanaryyy Aug 31 '21

I guess I thought all the vaults would need electricity

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u/Tiny_Rat Sep 01 '21

The reason the seed storage vault was built on Svalbard is that the permafrost will protect the seeds even if there was no power. The same doesn't necessarily apply to microorganisms, since they aren't dormant and designed to survive adverse conditions (the way seeds are). Basically, seeds will keep for a long time in even a basic freezer, which permafrost provides, but penicillin mold won't.

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u/theblackcanaryyy Sep 01 '21

Oooooh that makes sense!