Life from space

Fraser · #1 (**permalink**) 16-December-2003, 03:24 AM

I've got to say, the more I think about it, the more the theory of bacteria traveling through space is starting to ring true. Scientists have demonstrated that some strains of bacteria can survive every stage of the trip from Earth to Mars thanks to asteroid strikes, and it's pretty clear that bacteria is traveling on rocks out of our solar system. Over the course of billions of years, it's got to end up landing on other potentially habitable worlds in our galaxy, and then those worlds are getting hit by asteroids and spreading bacteria even further.

What's your opinion?

Josh · #2 (**permalink**) 16-December-2003, 10:11 AM

Does this mean you're changing your tune on whether there is other intelligent life out there, Fraser?

damienpaul · #3 (**permalink**) 16-December-2003, 04:33 PM

When i wear my other hat as a geologist (I have the hat rack from at least the 14th dimension). I read an article of bacterioform microbes thriving in deep hot semi-molten rocks as found by the fossil record (although this can be a bit dodgy)...it appears life can just about proliferate everywhere!

Fraser · #4 (**permalink**) 16-December-2003, 04:38 PM

I still think we have to assume it doesn't exist until we can actually confirm they're out there.

damienpaul · #5 (**permalink**) 16-December-2003, 04:53 PM

fair enough too, fraser

QJones · #6 (**permalink**) 17-December-2003, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fraser@Dec 16 2003, 03:24 AM
it's pretty clear that bacteria is traveling on rocks out of our solar system.

Not that clear to me. 'Course, I'm not doubting you, but I've never heard this before.

How is it clear? Are there rocks, measurably leaving Earth and going to space?

If so, I'd be quite amazed. But, more importantly, I'd be pretty happy to add that kind of knowledge to my brain.

Fraser · #7 (**permalink**) 17-December-2003, 10:19 AM

That's right. Researchers have determined that during an asteroid strike, a certain amount of material is propelled out of the atmosphere but not actually heated so high that it sterilizes any bacteria on board.

Bacteria is fully able to survive for long periods of time in total vaccuum, and it's capable of surviving re-entry back throught the Earth's atmosphere inside rocks.

So, each step of the journey is possible. Scientists estimate that kilograms of material from other planets in the Solar System is hitting our planet every day, so it almost seems inevitable.

damienpaul · #8 (**permalink**) 17-December-2003, 05:54 PM

Now that is an interesting thought! By that token, it would be almost possible for life to potentially proliferate everywhere!

Matthew · #9 (**permalink**) 17-December-2003, 10:42 PM

I wonder if these rocks in space could go to other solar systems. Maybe somehow they're sent to the outer oort cloud and then pulled totally out of the solar system, for another solar system to pick up. If these rocks could do this, then many solar systems could potentially have life. Not necissarily intelligent life, but maybe life (eg. plants, bacteria).

damienpaul · #10 (**permalink**) 18-December-2003, 01:12 AM

Its a great thought matthew!

Littlemews · #11 (**permalink**) 18-December-2003, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fraser@Dec 16 2003, 03:24 AM
I've got to say, the more I think about it, the more the theory of bacteria traveling through space is starting to ring true. Scientists have demonstrated that some strains of bacteria can survive every stage of the trip from Earth to Mars thanks to asteroid strikes, and it's pretty clear that bacteria is traveling on rocks out of our solar system. Over the course of billions of years, it's got to end up landing on other potentially habitable worlds in our galaxy, and then those worlds are getting hit by asteroids and spreading bacteria even further.

What's your opinion?

That maybe be ture

thinking going back to the past like the earth was born, there is a huge asteroid crash into Earth's Ocean which carry bacteria within, then day after day, those little cells slowly moving to the land and then turn into something else

For example : Dinosour and Plants

damienpaul · #12 (**permalink**) 18-December-2003, 02:46 AM

and then evolve to used car salesmen

Matthew · #13 (**permalink**) 19-December-2003, 12:18 AM

Yes, the pinnacle of evolution!

imported_lunatic · #14 (**permalink**) 19-December-2003, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fraser@Dec 16 2003, 04:38 PM
I still think we have to assume it doesn't exist until we can actually confirm they're out there.

That hardly seems fair to me ... that's like saying that we have to assume that humans can't land on mars until someone does it. If we're not allowed to have faith in certain things without proof, then what's the point of being human? Of course I understand your view of things, I just don't agree with it for myself.

Fraser · #15 (**permalink**) 19-December-2003, 10:11 AM

That's not what I'm saying. A better analogy would be "why get insurance? The chances of anything happening to me or my stuff is pretty remote."

Even though the chance of your house burning down is a pretty rare occurence, the consequences are catastrophic, and that's why you buy insurance.

There's a possibility that there's no life in the Universe except on the Earth. If true, when the Earth dies in 500+ million years, it would be a shame, considering humans had the opportunity to spread life into the stars. If we have faith that life is already out there, then we might not have enough incentive to get off the planet.

So, I believe we should work as hard as we can to become a spacefaring species. If intelligent life comes along and tells us "no pressure, life's everywhere", that would be a handy. Humans can be life's insurance policy.

GOURDHEAD · #16 (**permalink**) 19-December-2003, 01:53 PM

I'm somewhat ambivalent about whether to assume life exists elsewhere in the universe. On the one hand we should not claim there is life until we have definite proof; however I appreciate the effort being put forth by SETI. Such effort obvioulsy assumes there is a reasonable chance of finding evidence of life. Consequently, it seems that the assumption of life is contextually dependent...as most things are.

From our limited exposure to how living organisms behave, we have evidence that

GOURDHEAD · #17 (**permalink**) 19-December-2003, 02:37 PM

[somehow I inadvertantly interrupted myself out of my last post on this subject]

From our limited exposure to how living organisms behave, we have evidence that
1. They continuously modify their environment not necessarily for their own good.
2. They mutually annihilate one another in order to survive and evolve. Intelligence mildly moderates (read controlled modulation) this behavior.

As cold as it may seem, we need to be prepared for malevolence while hoping for benevolence. We'll probably get a mixture of both from each discovery.

I subscribe to the belief in the probability of microbes being transferred from planet to planet across stellar systems, which, if so, guarantees panspermia and "common life" at the DNA level (more generally "carbon and water" level). Remember, malevolent behavior is not absent from human behavior even within the same cultures much less across cultures. I also subscribe to the belief that intelligence (technological prowess) grants a considerable edge to its practioneers for survival purposes.

There is some value in assuming that there are intelligent critters out there and planning how to deal with them and ourselves while dealing with them is essential. The developing of our spacefaring expertise is urgent whether or not there are others out there.

h34r:

damienpaul · #18 (**permalink**) 19-December-2003, 02:50 PM

I like the cut of your jib, fraser. It is a very profound and very true statement, and the consequences won't be necessarily bad.

Damian007 · #19 (**permalink**) 20-December-2003, 12:26 AM

I find it hard to Believe that Life did come from Outer Space.. I mean, There is intelligent Life in Outer Space. Unfortunately, There's no intelligent life here on Earth so I don't think Life did come from Outer Space..I wish it did, Maybe then we might have been able to SAVE our Planet or maybe not destroyed it in the First Place...

damienpaul · #20 (**permalink**) 20-December-2003, 12:42 AM

Excellent! a fellow omen

Well I am of the belief that we'll see where life is from. Also I am of the belief, along the same lines of fraser's comments that we can be the flagship of life, an insuarance policy. B)

But, gah! no intelligent life here?? :blink: :blink: :blink: we each have to be the change we want to be....my better half says i am intelligent

corkft · #21 (**permalink**) 20-December-2003, 02:34 AM

the ancients said, Mother Earth; Father Sky. Earth being the womb of life and the sky providing the seed.