NASA scientist: Evidence of alien life on meteorite

Richard B. Hoover: Fossils of cyanobacteria found in meteorites

/ Journal of Cosmology

In what's sure to rekindle the debate over the question of life beyond Earth, a scientist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center says he has fossil evidence of bacterial life inside of a rare class of meteorites .

Writing in the March edition of the Journal of Cosmology, Richard B. Hoover argues that an examination of a collection of 9 meteorites - called CI1 carbonaceous meteorites - contain "indigenous fossils" of bacterial life.

"The complex filaments found embedded in the CI1 carbonaceous meteorites represent the remains of indigenous microfossils of cyanobacteria," according to Hoover.

That matter-of-fact sentence also underscores the shout-out-loud implication that the detection of fossils of cyanobacteria in the CI1 meteorites raises the possibility of life on comets. And Hoover does not shy away from offering that very conclusion.

Skeptics will doubtless weigh in soon with questions. Still, Hoover's proposition may have stirred more controversy several years ago. More recently, though, some scientists have suggested that meteors and comets slamming into the Earth brought with them the very integuments of life, including water and a host of complex organic chemicals.

If he's right, Hoover may have evidence to support that theory. He argues that the complex filaments he found embedded in the meteors are micro-fossils of extraterrestrial life forms that existed on the meteorites a long time ago prior to the meteorites' entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

"This finding has direct implications to the distribution of life in the Cosmos and the possibility of microbial life on in liquid water regimes of cometary nuclei as the travel within the orbit of Mars and in icy moons with liquid water oceans such as Europa and Enceladus," he writes.

In an accompanying comment, Rudy Schild, the journal's editor-in-chief and a member of the Harvard-Smithsonian's Center for Astrophysics, announced that the publication has sent out a "general invitation" to more than 5000 scientists to review the paper.

"We believe the best way to advance science, is to promote debate and discussion," he wrote.

[Eraice]

It's theoretically impossible for there not to be life in the universe, due to the number of stars and planets estimated to be orbiting them even the current count increasing daily within our own milky way. Regardless if this rock is really proof or not it takes away no shred of proof that there is in fact some life elsewhere in this universe and that it is not a barren lifeless wasteland in fact it may well be possible that our own solar system holds the keys to life on the very moons within reach that we could see in our lifetime. One day it's likely we may well have to use these places as well, because this earth cannot hold us forever and the human race has a nature that makes us wish to explore to push on and go farther then those before us always wanting to be better greater faster and stronger. As long as that desire lives on in our race will find some trace of life it may not be some advanced human it may be nothing more then a pool of pond scum, it might be something so alien it resembles a fish and never leaves the water, how are we to know? What we do know is that life will grow where circumstances are right. But what circumstances those require what are those rules we are still drawing up a list and until we know we cannot go about ruling the whole infinite universe out like it was nothing more then empty blank space. Think about that next time.

[cbsnewstech]

The universe is not barren, there is life, just not the type you hope for. Good imagination, suitable for a cheap sci-fi novella, but if you esteem to become an author start with using the word than instead of then where appropriate. Also you may want to not use such terms as "there is in fact some life elsewhere" until that has been established as an actual fact. You have a right to an opinion, just don't get your opinion confused with actual fact. We certainly won't.

[slownewsdayomewannagohome]

by greensboro78 March 7, 2011 2:30 PM EST
unfortunately man's ego (the same ego that made us think the stars and sun revolved around the earth) will never allow us to accept that life can exist outside of earth even if its staring us in the face. Because if proven there is life out there it raises many profound questions having to do with religion and our place in the universe.

=======

Well put.

[Reality-Checker]

I still believe this meteor actually came from Earth during an earlier era and was ejected into space upon an asteroid or major meteor impact. The rock floated in space orbiting for millions of yeras before returning back to Earth. What I see from this, is the best evidence of a form of time travel, where a creature leaves and returns to it's own future, although in fossilized form.

[ocdana]

It's utterly Ignorant to think Earth is the only planet with Life. There are untold undiscovered planets in the Universe that have been in Existence for millions of years. Even our Ocean Floors remain undiscovered. So, how can you say with any accuracy - that there are no other planets with Life? Prove it...............

[xjug1987-2009]

Prove there is! This isn't proof...

[WeHappyFew]

Why are most people obsessed with ETs being some mammalian/reptilian life form. Most likely, life sustained in our universe will be bacteriological.

[ebneila]

I aliens found only one rock from Earth, would they assume that life here was still in its primeval state? While scientist are mulling over microscopic fossils in meteors, they outwardly ignore aerial sightings of advanced space craft(UFO)seen in the skies everyday.
The universe is teeming with life. To think all ETs are out to kill humans is silly. If they wanted to destroy humans, some could without ever being noticed

[kansas1946]

Although, I am not a religious person, there is really no inconsistancy between Genesis and the idea of life, any kind of life, on other planets.

[greensboro78]

unfortunately man's ego (the same ego that made us think the stars and sun revolved around the earth) will never allow us to accept that life can exist outside of earth even if its staring us in the face. Because if proven there is life out there it raises many profound questions having to do with religion and our place in the universe.

[johndevinejr]

It is an interesting discovery. Mr. Hoover may be correct. I think that before we all jump on the Alien Bandwagon, many other scientists need to look at the evidence.
Lots of opinions are needed, and additonal evidence from other sources will be needed to confirm this theory.

[gangesdak]

On one side we have judgment day nuts, on the other we have life-on-other- planets dopes.

[Toonami15187553]

Is it so ridiculous to make conclusions based on evidence? I'm not sure if you're referring to people who just make blatant assumptions that there are life forms on other planets particularly similar to the ones our imaginations have created. That statement may not be as asinine as I perceived it if that is the case. I'm not sure what your point was regardless. However, simply because of the vast size of our universe it is not impossible that life originated elsewhere. Dr. Hoover, based on the evidence generated from the tests he performed, came to the most valid conclusion. Mistakes could have been made and the results may not actually imply his conclusions. Further analysis of the research and tests probably need to be performed.