Panspermia/A critique of: The Universe: a Cryogenic Habitat for Microbial Life.
(Review Paper) Cited in Panspermia/A critique of: The Universe: a Cryogenic Habitat for Microbial Life.
Space-traveling bacteria wears a protective coat edit
Scientists believe that Space-traveling bacteria would be susceptible to damage from the ultraviolet (UV) light of stars; however,a thin layer of carbonized material would protect them and block the UV light[1].
Scientists have found freeze-dried microorganisms in the depths of Lake Vostok. These microorganisms were cultured in a laboratory after being dormant for 10-20 million years. Some of these freeze-dried microorganisms are believed to be brought here by comets for outside of Earth's atmosphere[1].
Earth is not protected against cosmic contaminants. Several tonnes per day breach Earth's atmosphere. In the 1970s' astronomers discovered a host of organic molecules in interstellar clouds. In 1986, similar cosmic contaminants were also found in comets that had reached earth[1].
Methods edit
Laboratory tests were conducted to test the hypothesis that space-travelling individual bacteria would be damage and deactivated by the ultraviolet light produce by stars. These test falsified this hypothesis.Under normal laboratory conditions microorganism were not readily killed by ultraviolet. No genetic information was destroyed in fact the opposite happened. Exposure to UV through visible sunlight actually promoted the repair of irradiated bacteria.[1]
Results edit
Tests also found that microorganisms are easily protected from UV light because of molecular clouds. Molecular clouds cut the glare of UV radition and permit the development of protective mantles around space-travelling bacteria. In addition, thin layers of cabonised material around each individual bacteria would also be effective in blocking out the damaging UV light.[1]