Extraterrestrial Space Travelers –“Distributing Microbial Life Through the Universe”

 

Microbial Life

Life is incredibly resilient. In April 2019, a microscopic, multicellular species, also known as a water bear, probably made it to life after a crash landing on the lunar surface by Israel's Baresat probe. Based on the analysis of the spacecraft's trajectory and the structure of the device, the micro-animals stored in the probability of survival for the tardigrades ... are extremely high, "the AFP report said, that the dim organism, which is a In millimeters (0.04) is under inches) in size, they were dehydrated to keep them in suspended animation, then "enclosed in an epoxy of artificial amber, and should be resurfaced in the future."

Resilience of Life to Cosmic Events

According to the 2017 Oxford University collaboration, The Resilience of Life to Astrophysical Events, the world's most indestructible of Earth's species, the Tardigrade, will live until the sun dies. "Tardigrades are close to indestructible occurring on Earth," the researchers said, "It is possible that there are examples of other resilient species in the universe. In this context, on Mars and in other areas of the solar system in general. There is a real case for looking for life. "

Tardigrades — the most resilient form of life on our planet, can exist for up to 30 years without food or water and can tolerate temperatures up to 150 ° C — the question arises: what else is there?

A Tardigrade

"Interplanetary Transfer of Life”

According to the University of Vienna report, "Since the discovery of space," mankind has been fascinated by the existence of terrestrial life in outer space. The outdoor space is an unfavorable environment for any form of life, but some exceptionally resistant microorganisms can survive. Such extrophiles can migrate between planets and distribute life throughout the universe, underlying the hypothesis of life or interdisciplinary transfer. "

Resistant to Galactic & Cosmic Radiation

A recent study by the University of Vienna investigated the effect of outer space on Dinococcus radioduran, a unique microbe at the molecular level (image below). This extrophilic bacterium can withstand the harsh effects of outer space: galactic cosmic and solar UV radiation, extreme vacuum, temperature fluctuations, dehydration, freezing, and microgravity.

Klebsiella pneumoniae

"In Low Earth Orbit"

A year after being exposed to low Earth orbit (LEO) outside the International Space Station during the Tanpo space mission, the researchers stated that "D. The radioiodernal survived morphological damage and formed several outer membrane vesicles. A multipotent protein and genomic responses were initiated to reduce cell stress, helping the bacteria to repair DNA damage and defend against reactive oxygen species. The processes of transport and energy status were changed in response to space exposure. D. Radiodirenes used a primordial stress molecule polyamine putresin as a reactive oxygen species scavenger during regeneration from space exposure. "

                                                       Longer, Farther Journeys Possible.

These investigations enable us to understand the mechanisms and processes through which life can exist beyond Earth, expanding our knowledge of how to survive and adapt to hostile environments of outer space. The results suggest that D. in LEO. Its efficient molecular response system is possible due to the long-term survival of radiodirens and indicates that even now, distant travel is achievable for organisms with such abilities, ”says Titiana Milojevic, head of the Space Biochemistry group. Co-author of further studies at the university.

                                                                    “Life is Incredibly Mutable”

Elsewhere, a team of prominent scientists from MIT and Harvard — search for the extraterrestrial genome (SETG) —is confident enough of the possibility of panspermia that they have spent a decade developing a tool that would allow any additional and Can differentiate, identify and classify protected. DNA or RNA-based organisms. The SETG will test the hypothesis of life on Mars that, if it exists, can share a common ancestor with life on Earth. Which can be sent to Mars and potentially detect DNA or more primitive RNA. In other words, life is not only the same on Earth, but has actually been transported long before Earth. 

                                                                       Barely Scratched the Surface”

"Before we were searching specifically for viruses, because we barely started looking at the surface to understand them on Earth," says Katherine Blyters with NASA's Astrobiology Institute. "Before now, technology and know-how and understanding of viruses was not at one point .

                                                        Viruses –An Indirect Detection of Cellular Life

"Assuming that viruses replicate in the same way across all systems, virus detection would be an indirect trace of cellular life," heads the Stadman Lab at Portland State University and co-chairman of NASA's Virus Focus Group Says Kenneth Stedman, who says that detecting a virus on Mars or Saturn's Enceladus or Jupiter's Europa would be a revolutionary advancement in astronomy . 

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Image source : Daily Galaxy