21-09-2013, 12:00 PM
1
There Is Lilfe In Space!
Scientists believe they have found the first evidence of life arriving to Earth from space, which could "completely change our view of biology and evolution".The team, from the University of Sheffield, made the discovery after sending a balloon high into the stratosphere. On its return they found organisms that were too large to have originated from Earth.
Professor Milton Wainwright, who led the team, said the results could be revolutionary. He added: "If life does continue to arrive from space then we have to completely change our view of biology and evolution.
"In the absence of a mechanism by which large particles like these can be transported to the stratosphere, we can only conclude that the biological entities originated from space. Our conclusion then is that life is continually arriving to Earth from space, life is not restricted to this planet and it almost certainly did not originate here."
The balloon was launched near Chester and carried microscope studs which were only exposed to the atmosphere when it reached heights of between 22 and 27km from the planet.
Prof Wainwright, from the university's department of molecular biology and biotechnology, went on: "Most people will assume that these biological particles must have just drifted up to the stratosphere from Earth, but it is generally accepted that a particle of the size found cannot be lifted from Earth to heights of, for example, 27km.
"The only known exception is by a violent volcanic eruption, none of which occurred within three years of the sampling trip."
The professor said stringent precautions had been taken against the possibility of contamination during sampling and processing, and said the group was confident that the biological organisms could only have come from the stratosphere.
The team is hoping to extend and confirm their results by carrying out the test again next month to coincide with the Haley's Comet-associated meteorite shower, when there will be large amounts of cosmic dust. It is hoped that more new, or unusual, organisms will be found.
It is looking more and more likely to be proven that there is life out there (although the methane on Mars indicating life has now been proven to have been overestimated).
People have said for years that the new bugs we get come from outer space - it would seem they could be right!
21-09-2013, 03:57 PM
6
Re: There Is Lilfe In Space!
Originally Posted by Julie1962
->
There must be life out there somewhere just not in our solar system though so it will take a while to find them. However I have a feeling they found us a while ago and decided to give us a wide berth, I can't say I blame them really.
21-09-2013, 03:59 PM
7
Re: There Is Lilfe In Space!
Originally Posted by Alan Cooke
->
I saw that in today's paper. It's all VERY INTERESTING !!!
still, it's a start). It will be interesting to see what happens when they send the balloon up again after the comet next passes over.Do you think this could be where some of our new virus come from?
(not sure what the plural of virus is - viruses, virusi,
)
21-09-2013, 06:07 PM
8
Re: There Is Lilfe In Space!
All those Si-Fi films of the 50's were not that far off then, astronauts going up and bringing back little bugs clinging to their spacesuits, remember 'The Blob'?, that was supposed to come from a comet or something.
Ah!, so that's how they got there.
|
|
