The most mysterious question in human’s history is “how
life began on earth”. 20% of the scientists believe that the life on Earth is
actually originated in space.
How did the life came from space?
To know about this in
detail, we must know about the Panspermia theory.
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| Panspermia By Silver Spoon Sokpop – Own work; For the proto-bacteria I used an adapted version of File:Bacteria-.svg by JrPol and for the DNA I used an adapted version of File:DNA chemical structure.svg by Madprime. Earth from File:Earth Flag.svg by Himasaram, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8047074 |
from microorganisms present in outer space and these microorganisms are carried
by comets, asteroids, meteoroids etc.,
explanations and theories.
1. Radio Panspermia:
throughout the universe and these microorganisms travelled for a long time and
reached planets due to the radiation pressure of stars. From this single cell
organisms started to grow and after billions of years, they divided and
converted into several life forms on Earth.
2. Litho Panspermia:
life on it, but due to asteroid impacts or volcanic eruptions, the
microorganisms on that planet are carried into outer space by rocks and reach
other planets.
reason, because rocks need more that 20 GPa pressure to reach outer space by
volcanic eruptions or asteroid impacts. From estimations, the biggest volcanic
eruption on Earth is occurred on Sarusas in Brazil (130 million years ago). It
released 1 GPa of pressure, which is not at all sufficient for the
microorganisms to reach outer space.
3. Pseudo Panspermia:
compounds like Amino acids, Nucleic acids etc., These organic compounds formed
when the stars & planets were formed and these organic compounds are
carried by asteroids, comets, meteoroids and reached Earth by impacts. Many
scientists agree with this theory.
4. Extra-terrestrial life & directed Panspermia:
many intelligent life forms began on many planets after millions of years from
big bang. These advanced civilizations started sprinkling the microorganisms
over other planets and this caused the life to began on Earth. Some of the scientists agree with this theory.
Let’s explore some of the proofs behind the theories:
- In December 1984, researchers found one meteorite in
Antarctica. Researchers from NASA made some observations on it and concluded
that it came from Mars. Researchers also noticed bacteria fossils in that
meteorite. From Carbon dating, researchers also concluded that it came to Earth
at about 13000 years ago. But bacteria fossils on it are 18000 years old, which means
it contains bacteria before it reaching Earth. This evidence strengthens
Panspermia theory. - In 2001, two researchers from University of Naples studied
one meteorite. They founded bacteria inside the meteorite and concluded that
the bacteria is not from Earth. - In 2001 & 2005, ISRO has done 2 experiments on air taken
from Earth’s atmosphere (20-80 kms height) and tested in laboratory. They
founded 12 types of bacteria in which 3 types of bacteria are never seen before
on Earth. They survived even from UV radiation, which means they can also
survive in space. - In ISS, Russian Cosmonauts noticed bacteria on metal outside
the ISS. Everyone got a doubt that how can bacteria be formed and survived in
space.
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| EURECA_deployment Image credit: NASA |
Space programs like Exobiology Radiation Assembly,
Biosatellites, Tanpopo etc., were specifically designed to do research on
existence of life in space. These missions take microorganisms from Earth and
do research on them in space. Astonishingly some of them were surviving.
Many asteroids and comets contains water, ice & Amino
acids on the surface. So, these strong evidences made us to believe that life also
exist in outer space. Panspermia theory have some evidences to show life exist in
outer space, but we don’t know the exact reason behind the origin of life on
Earth.
If we think the Panspermia is right, then the
extra-terrestrial life also exists because every star system has asteroids,
comets and other building blocks to began life.
Share your ideas and thoughts in comment section below.
Thank you.
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