Has NASA Discovered Fossilized Alien Cyanobacteria in a Meteorite?
A NASA scientist claims to have discovered the fossilized remains of an alien life form -- a cyanobacteria in meteorites -- which have been collected on Earth. According to Dr Richard Hoover, an astrobiologist with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, the alien life form could explain how life started on Earth. Dr. Hoover fractured small meteorite specimens under a sterile environment and then examined the freshly broken surfaces with a scanning-electron microscope and a field emission electron-scanning microscope, which allowed him to search the surface for evidence of fossilized remains. What he found, he believes, is not from this Earth.
Comments:
An enticing article and certainly the most convincing images yet of potential microrganisms in a meteorite. Further biochemical analysis would be helpful however. This impacts directly on the question of "where" did life originate, Earth or elsewhere. Would support the age old suggestion of panspermia if verified. Other possibilities include life began or Earth or ancient Mars and cross-contaminated othe bodies in the solar system during the heavy impact age. Good stuff, but clearly needs further substantiation.
How do we protect against contamination of a meteorite before examination? There can be an extraordinary difference between suspicion/conception and reality. My money is on finding extraterrestrial life beyond the confines of earth and sans potential contamination by the "finder". I do not doubt the possibility of life beyond earth; but I would be cautious of too much extrapolation. Bacterial life can be a most likely finding. We must remember that for life to progress beyond that point, environmental options must be available such as existed on earth for billions of years. Competition between species seems to have a serious impact on evolution. Stressors appear to be a component for evolution, although evolution can progress without such. Also, the more complex an organism, in my opinion the more likely for evolutionary processes. But I ramble. <br><br>Jud <br><br>
Funding Member
