Researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) are breathing a sigh of relief after a recent lab fire. The fire, which occurred at the Marine Science Laboratory, threatened to destroy years of research and samples collected by the scientists.

Recovery Efforts

Fortunately, many of the samples were recovered, including those from Antarctica, which are irreplaceable. The researchers are now working to determine if the samples are still viable after being exposed to smoke and water.

According to Tom Frazer, dean of the USF College of Marine Science, the scientists are rejoicing at the recovery of the samples. "We'll know in short order what's good and what's not, but I feel fairly confident that most of the samples that we retrieve from the building are going to be viable and useful for their intended purpose," he said.

Impact on Research

The lab contained a lot of local research, including servers holding scientific data on algae blooms and frozen specimens collected from Tampa Bay to test for contaminants. The loss of these samples would have been devastating for the researchers, who have spent years collecting and studying them.

Alejandra Aguilar, a PhD student, was relieved to recover her boxes of samples, which she had collected over several years. "I look at the guys who are doing this job, and I explain to them in Spanish how grateful I am," she said. "They're like, 'Why are you so excited about this?' I'm like, 'You guys, this is the job that I've been doing for the past few years.'"

The researchers are now working out of a small makeshift lab upstairs in the Knight Research Center, trying to do everything that was previously done in multiple rooms. Despite the challenges, they are determined to continue their work and make the most of the recovered samples.

Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.