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Science Section => Science General Discussion => Topic started by: stromboli on March 11, 2013, 11:31:17 AM

Title: Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life May Have Been Found
Post by: stromboli on March 11, 2013, 11:31:17 AM
http://www.technologyreview.com/view/51 ... fragments/ (http://www.technologyreview.com/view/512381/astrobiologists-find-ancient-fossils-in-fireball-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.
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Post by: Plu on March 11, 2013, 11:54:51 AM
That looks pretty sweet. Lets see what happens when the paper is released into the wilds.
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Post by: Thumpalumpacus on March 11, 2013, 02:03:50 PM
I hope it's accurate.
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Post by: Davka on March 11, 2013, 03:41:10 PM
"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.
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Post by: PopeyesPappy on March 11, 2013, 03:58:14 PM
Very cool!
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Post by: caseagainstfaith on March 11, 2013, 04:35:04 PM
Somebody highly not convinced:

//http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/01/15/life_in_a_meteorite_claims_by_n_c_wickramasinghe_of_diatoms_in_a_meteorite.html
Title: Re: Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life May Have Been Found
Post by: Plu on March 11, 2013, 04:58:05 PM
Alas, another one shot down :P
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Post by: PopeyesPappy on March 11, 2013, 05:18:38 PM
Quote from: "caseagainstfaith"Somebody highly not convinced:

//http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/01/15/life_in_a_meteorite_claims_by_n_c_wickramasinghe_of_diatoms_in_a_meteorite.html

but but but weird red rain in India...
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Post by: stromboli on March 11, 2013, 05:31:35 PM
I'm just not even going to try anymore.  :(
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Post by: Philosophos on March 11, 2013, 06:02:35 PM
I still love you, stromboli.

At least as much as I love anyone. Which is not at all. Unless by love you mean hate.
Title: Re: Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life May Have Been Found
Post by: leo on March 11, 2013, 08:48:26 PM
Cool . I'm looking for this .
Title: Re: Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life May Have Been Found
Post by: AllPurposeAtheist on March 11, 2013, 09:17:32 PM
Extra terrestrial life? This thread was started by....oh.. HI STROMBOLI! I didn't see you there.. :lol:
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Post by: NitzWalsh on March 12, 2013, 06:04:14 AM
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.
Title: Re: Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life May Have Been Found
Post by: dawiw on March 12, 2013, 04:08:54 PM
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... e-science/ (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/03/130312-mars-life-curiosity-space-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!
Title: Re: Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life May Have Been Found
Post by: GurrenLagann on March 12, 2013, 05:36:04 PM
I thought 'bullshit' the moment I saw the thread title. Woul#'ve been nice ti have been wrong though. :(
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Post by: Colanth on March 12, 2013, 09:46:49 PM
Remember, Wickramasinghe is a mathematician - not someone I'd depend on to determine whether some microscopic structure was ever alive, let alone whether it had extraterrestrial origins.  And Plait and those he consulted (people who actually have some knowledge of the subject) don't seem to think this is a discovery of anything more than what you'd expect to find in a rock found where this one was found.  No, Diatoms Have Not Been Found in a Meteorite (//http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/01/15/life_in_a_meteorite_claims_by_n_c_wickramasinghe_of_diatoms_in_a_meteorite.html).