Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life May Have Been Found

Started by stromboli, March 11, 2013, 11:31:17 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

stromboli

http://www.technologyreview.com/view/51 ... fragments/

QuoteThe results of these tests, which the Cardiff team reveal today, are extraordinary.  They say the stones contain fossilised biological structures fused into the rock matrix and that their tests clearly rule out the possibility of terrestrial contamination.

In total, the Jamie Wallis at Cardiff University and a few buddies received 628 stone fragments collected from rice fields in the region. However, they were able to clearly identify only three as possible meteorites.  

The general properties of these three stones immediately mark them out as unusual. One stone, for example, had a density of less than 1 gram per cubic centimetre, less than all known carbonaceous meteorites. It had a partially fused crust, good evidence of atmospheric heating, a carbon content of up to 4 per cent and contained an abundance of organic compounds with a high molecular weight, which is not unknown in meteorites. On this evidence, Wallis and co think the fireball was probably a small comet.  

The most startling claims, however, are based on electron microscope images of structures within the stones (see above). Wallis and co say that one image shows a complex, thick-walled, carbon-rich microfossil about 100 micrometres across that bares similarities with a group of largely extinct marine dinoflagellate algae.

They say another image shows well-preserved flagella that are 2 micrometres in diameter and 100 micrometres long. By terrestrial standards, that's extremely long and thin, which Wallis and co interpret as evidence of formation in a low-gravity, low-pressure environment.

Wallis and co also measured the abundance of various elements in the samples to determine their origin. They say that low levels of nitrogen in particular rule out the possibility of contamination by modern organisms which would have a much higher nitrogen content. The fact that these samples are also buried within the rock matrix is further evidence, they say.

Wallis and co are convinced that the lines of evidence they have gathered are powerful and persuasive. "This provides clear and convincing evidence that these obviously ancient remains of extinct marine algae found embedded in the Polonnaruwa meteorite are indigenous to the stones and not the result of post-arrival microbial contaminants," they conclude.

Dated March 11, today. From MIT Technology Review, I'd say its legit. Shit's gettin' real, once again.

Plu

That looks pretty sweet. Lets see what happens when the paper is released into the wilds.

Thumpalumpacus

I hope it's accurate.
<insert witty aphorism here>

Davka

"There are other explanations, of course. One is that the fireball was of terrestrial origin, a remnant of one of the many asteroid impacts in Earth's history that that have ejected billions of tonnes of rock and water into space, presumably with biological material inside."

This was my first thought on reading the article. The fact that what they found shows "similarities with a group of largely extinct marine dinoflagellate algae" seems suspicious to me.

I'm waiting for algae fossils on Mars.

PopeyesPappy

Save a life. Adopt a Greyhound.

caseagainstfaith

Please visit my site at http://www.caseagainstfaith.com  featuring critiques of Lee Strobel and other apologetics.

Plu


PopeyesPappy

Save a life. Adopt a Greyhound.

stromboli

I'm just not even going to try anymore.  :(

Philosophos

I still love you, stromboli.

At least as much as I love anyone. Which is not at all. Unless by love you mean hate.
Quote from: \"Smartmarzipan\"I hate people. And so should you. \":D\"

leo

Religion is Bullshit  . The winner of the last person to post wins thread .

AllPurposeAtheist

Extra terrestrial life? This thread was started by....oh.. HI STROMBOLI! I didn't see you there.. :lol:
All hail my new signature!

Admit it. You're secretly green with envy.

NitzWalsh

I heard the group that made the initial announcement about fossils on meteorites has made similar claims a number of times and each time they were proven to be wrong. I'd like to look up some more of their articles and rebuttals, might have to do that tomorrow.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
~ Arthur C. Clarke

dawiw

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... e-science/

"We have found a habitable environment," said John Grotzinger, project scientist for the Curiosity mission. "The water that was here was so benign and supportive of life that if a human had been on the planet back then, they could drink it."

That is mind blowing.... :shock:  :-D

Life could exist elsewhere in any habitable planet!
I remain unconvinced by any claims anyone has ever made about the existence or the power of a divine force operating in the universe."
-Neil deGrasse Tyson.

GurrenLagann

I thought 'bullshit' the moment I saw the thread title. Woul#'ve been nice ti have been wrong though. :(
Which means that to me the offer of certainty, the offer of complete security, the offer of an impermeable faith that can\'t give way, is the offer of something not worth having.
[...]
Take the risk of thinking for yourself. Much more happiness, truth, beauty & wisdom, will come to you that way.
-Christopher Hitchens