Thread: British scientists claim to have found proof of alien life

British scientists claim to have found proof of alien life | Space, Military and Medicine | News.com.au


The scientists came to the startling conclusion after a balloon sent 27 kilometres into the stratosphere came back carrying small biological organisms believed to have originated from space.
Professor Milton Wainwright, of the University of Sheffield’s Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, says he is "95 per cent convinced" the organisms do not originate from Earth.

"By all known information that science has, we know that they must be coming in from space," he said. "There is no known mechanism by which these life forms can achieve that height. As far as we can tell from known physics, they must be incoming.



I am sceptical about how they are so sure they didn't just pick up some crap from the surface and near-surface. I am also sceptical about their initial assessment of being 95% sure that what they have is extraterrestrial life.

However, I do not doubt the credibility of the university, which is one of the highest ranked. I put this thread in Pseudoscience because it will probably be moved here anyway.

Originally Posted by pyoko

"By all known information that science has, we know that they must be coming in from space," he said. "There is no known mechanism by which these life forms can achieve that height."

Well, I can think of at least one known mechanism by which those life forms can achieve that height: mankind.

We are frequently sending stuff up into space.
Could the material not have been attached to a rocket?

My press release radar is telling me that someone somewhere is making as much as possible of possibilities, chances, even hints of such possibilities, to get themselves into general news.

The organisms probably contain DNA, supporting the notion that life on Earth may itself have extraterrestrial origins.

Now if they'd tested the samples and found that they had
a) definitely found DNA ,
b) worked out that that molecule had never been identified on earth
then they might have a news item I'd pay attention to.

From the PDF of the study:

SEM of a diatom frustule (possibly a Nitzschia species) captured on a stub from a height of 25km in the stratosphere

If it is not from Earth then it is definitely not a Nitzschia species.

Originally Posted by RedPanda

Originally Posted by pyoko

"By all known information that science has, we know that they must be coming in from space," he said. "There is no known mechanism by which these life forms can achieve that height."

Well, I can think of at least one known mechanism by which those life forms can achieve that height: mankind.

We are frequently sending stuff up into space.
Could the material not have been attached to a rocket?

That is a likely possibility. It is known that some organisms can survive extremely harsh conditions.
An example of this are the tardigrades, polyextremophiles who can even survive the conditions of outer space.

Originally Posted by Cogito Ergo Sum

That is a likely possibility. It is known that some organisms can survive extremely harsh conditions.
An example of this are the tardigrades, polyextremophiles who can even survive the conditions of outer space.

From googling 'frustule': it is made of silica - so it wouldn't have any trouble surviving in empty space.

So are we now going to have a load of threads on the health benefits of diatomaceous space-dust?

Diatoms in SPAAAACE!!!

Originally Posted by Strange

So are we now going to have a load of threads on the health benefits of diatomaceous space-dust?

Diatoms in SPAAAACE!!!

That is it. I am out!

Originally Posted by PhDemon

Don't know if you got it CES (you may be too young), it was a reference to this:

The Muppet Show - Pigs in Space: The End of the Universe - YouTube

I thought member Strange was referring to this:
Diatomaceous earth, food grade, is this really so good , or dangerous ?

Both.

The researchers seem way too confident for some reason. If microbes are so abundantly just falling from space, where are the microbes on Mars?

Originally Posted by PhDemon

I remember reading somewhere (but I'm buggered if I can remember where) that Fred Hoyle was a firm believer that we evolved with our nostrils facing downwards to prevent "space microbes" falling in. Just goes to show he was a bright guy but had some loony tunes ideas...

It might have been some disinformation put out by his opponents (you just can't trust those anti-panspermiists). I would have thought rain was the bigger problem.

27k is lower part of stratosphere (roughly from 15 to 50 K)
We know from climate and weather studies that SSW events involve large tropospheric air masses rising into the stratosphere and moving poleward.

Knowing that, what is the most likely source of life found at 27k?

"By all known information that science has, we know that they must be coming in from space," he said. "There is no known mechanism by which these life forms can achieve that height. As far as we can tell from known physics, they must be incoming.

Are these "scientist" ignorant, stupid, insane, or just publicity hounds?

Hah! Just found this on ScienceBlogs.

Has Alien Life Been Discovered? – Greg Laden's Blog

Distinctly unimpressed. Just like the rest of us.

Originally Posted by adelady

Hah! Just found this on ScienceBlogs.

Has Alien Life Been Discovered? – Greg Laden's Blog

Distinctly unimpressed. Just like the rest of us.

Ah, the Journal of Cosmology. That explains a lot.

I liked this line: "This way they can establish the TRUTH of WHAT IS OUT THERE using the best available method: CONFIRMATION BIAS."

Originally Posted by Strange

Originally Posted by adelady

Hah! Just found this on ScienceBlogs.

Has Alien Life Been Discovered? – Greg Laden's Blog

Distinctly unimpressed. Just like the rest of us.

Ah, the Journal of Cosmology. That explains a lot.

How so?

Originally Posted by Cogito Ergo Sum

Originally Posted by Strange

Originally Posted by adelady

Hah! Just found this on ScienceBlogs.

Has Alien Life Been Discovered? – Greg Laden's Blog

Distinctly unimpressed. Just like the rest of us.

Ah, the Journal of Cosmology. That explains a lot.

How so?

Journal of Cosmology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by mat5592

The researchers seem way too confident for some reason. If microbes are so abundantly just falling from space, where are the microbes on Mars?

Border Control.

The university needs more info to draw the media to them if that's what they are seeking for#

Dang, they found my last body floating around in space? I want it back!