Never-before-seen 'extreme' microbes surrounded NASA robot before it was sent to Mars 18 years ago, new study reveals

Clean rooms are spaces where spacecraft and their payloads are quarantined before launches and upon reentry to Earth, in order to prevent environmental contamination by microbes and keep them free of potentially damaging particles, according to NASA. These spaces are sterilized, pressurized, constantly vacuumed and supplied with air via special filters that keep out 99.97% of all airborne particles. Anybody entering the room must wear an all-in-one "bunny suit" and have an air shower before entering.

But all of these measures still can't keep everything out. When researchers reanalyzed samples collected from the Phoenix lander clean room before, during and after the spacecraft was quarantined there, they found DNA from 26 novel species of bacteria. The team reported their findings in a study published May 12 in the journal Microbiome.

Related: 

• Alien organisms could hitch a ride on our spacecraft and contaminate Earth, scientists warn

Most of the newly described microbes displayed at least some characteristics that made them resistant to harsh environmental conditions, such as extreme temperatures, pressures and levels of radiation. Some had genes associated with DNA repair, detoxification of harmful molecules, and improved metabolism, and may even be able to survive the vacuum of space, the researchers wrote.

"Our study aimed to understand the risk of extremophiles being transferred in space missions and to identify which microorganisms might survive the harsh conditions of space," study co-author Alexandre Rosado, a microbiologist at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, said in a statement. "This effort is pivotal for monitoring the risk of microbial contamination and safeguarding against unintentional colonization of exploring planets."

The newly described species made up just under a quarter of all the species identified in the room, most of which also had extremophile properties. This suggests spacecraft clean rooms could be an excellent place to search for more of these hardy microbes.

Finding new extremophiles is important because it can help researchers predict what potential extraterrestrial microbes might look like and how we can prevent them from contaminating Earth. Some of them also produce substances, such as biofilms, that have potential applications in medicine, food preservation and biotechnologies.

"Together, we are unraveling the mysteries of microbes that withstand the extreme conditions of space — organisms with the potential to revolutionize the life sciences, bioengineering, and interplanetary exploration," study co-author Kasthuri Venkateswaran, a retired senior research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said in the statement.

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22-05-2025 om 16:13 geschreven door peter  

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22-05-2025 om 15:50 geschreven door peter  

De wedloop is begonnen: Wie bouwt het beste ruimteveer?

Over de hele wereld ontwikkelen ingenieurs nieuwe ruimteveren. Bekijk hier zes van de spectaculairste opties.

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21-05-2025 om 22:25 geschreven door peter  

Astronomen zagen iets vreemds: Mysterieus reusachtig object ontdekt in ons eigen sterrenstelsel

Er is een mysterieus cirkelvormig object waargenomen in de Melkweg. Als de veronderstellingen van de astronomen kloppen, gaat het om een object dat zo zeldzaam is dat het eigenlijk niet zou moeten bestaan.

Astronomen denken dat het overblijfselen kunnen zijn van supernova’s of botsingen tussen zwarte gaten en neutronensterren.

Tot nu toe zijn er slechts vijf ORC’s bevestigd, maar nu steekt één ontdekking met kop en schouders boven de rest uit.

Een team onder leiding van onderzoekers van de Western Sydney University in Australië vond een perfecte cirkel in ons eigen sterrenstelsel, de Melkweg.

De bol wijkt af van andere waargenomen ORC’s ver buiten ons eigen sterrenstelsel, die tot wel 50 keer groter waren dan de Melkweg en zelfs een heel sterrenstelsel omcirkelden.

Vernoemd naar het oude Griekse woord voor ‘perfect’

De nieuwe ORC’s – Teleios genoemd naar het Oudgriekse woord voor perfectie, téleion – zijn een stuk kleiner dan de andere.

De astronomen hadden moeite om de juiste grootte van Teleios vast te stellen, maar ze denken dat hij tussen de 10,76 en 156,55 lichtjaar in diameter is.

Hij bevindt zich op ongeveer 7175 tot 25.114 lichtjaar van de aarde en de onderzoekers denken dat hij het restant is van een zogeheten type 1a supernova.

Supernova’s behoren tot de helderste sterexplosies in het heelal en ontstaan wanneer een witte dwergster in een dubbelstersysteem te veel massa krijgt en explodeert.

Als het een type 1a supernova is, heeft de cirkel een diameter van 46 tot 156,55 lichtjaar en is hij tussen de 1000 en 10.000 jaar oud.

In 2028 zal ’s werelds grootste radiotelescoop – de Square Kilometre Array – klaar zijn. Wetenschappers verwachten hiermee meer antwoorden te krijgen op de vraag hoe Teleios is ontstaan.

• De resultaten worden gepubliceerd in het tijdschrift Astronomical Society of Australia, maar zijn beschikbaar in een vroege versie op arXiv.

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21-05-2025 om 18:48 geschreven door peter  

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21-05-2025 om 18:32 geschreven door peter  

How many satellites orbit Earth?

As of May 2025, there are roughly 11,700 active satellites in orbit around Earth, a majority of which are located in low-Earth orbit (LEO) — below 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) above our planet's surface, Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who has been tracking satellites since 1989, told Live Science.

However, the total number of satellites, including those that have stopped working and are either waiting to be deorbited or have been moved to an elevated "graveyard orbit," could be as high as 14,900, according to data from the United Nations' Office for Outer Space Affairs, although this number is harder to properly track.

Related: 

• Where does the solar system end?

But this is just the beginning: Some experts predict that the number of active satellites could increase almost tenfold before eventually leveling out. If this does happen, it could create numerous problems for astronomy, space exploration and the environment.

"It causes a space traffic management problem, it will exacerbate the proliferation of space debris, it is interfering with astronomy and stargazing, and the rocket launches and reentries cause atmospheric pollution," Aaron Boley, an astronomer at The University of British Columbia who has previously studied these effects, told Live Science. "We're still trying to understand the extent of the impacts."

Rising numbers

The exponential rise in satellite numbers is largely the result of "megaconstellations" — giant networks of satellites built by private companies, such as SpaceX's Starlink constellation, that aim to provide communications services across the globe.

For example, as of May 2025, roughly 7,400 active Starlink satellites are orbiting Earth, which account for more than 60% of the total number of active satellites, according to McDowell. All of these have been launched since May 2019.

SpaceX may be leading the way, but other organizations are hot on their heels, including Eutelsat's OneWeb constellation, AST's SpaceMobile network, Amazon's upcoming Project Kuiper and China's "Thousand Sails" constellation, among others.

It is hard to predict exactly how many satellites will be launched and when. However, researchers can predict the maximum number of satellites that can safely orbit our planet. This total, known as the carrying capacity, will likely be the upper limit of how many active satellites can coexist at once, without constantly smashing into one another.

McDowell and Boley, as well as other astronomers — including Federico Di Vruno at the transnational Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Observatory and Benjamin Winkel at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany — all believe that the carrying capacity for LEO will likely extend up to 100,000 active satellites. At this point, new satellites will likely only be launched to replace those that eventually die and fall back to Earth.

It is unclear when this carrying capacity will be reached. However, based on the current rate of increasing launches, several experts predict that it could happen before 2050.

Potential issues

The sheer number of satellites expected to orbit our planet will likely impact us in several ways.

One of the major issues associated with satellites is space junk. Although most modern rockets are at least partly reusable, they still use boosters that get discarded in LEO and can drift there for years before reentering the atmosphere. If these pieces collide with one another, satellites or larger spacecraft, like the International Space Station, they can create thousands of smaller pieces of debris, which increase the likelihood of further collisions.

Related: 

• Is there an 'up' and a 'down' in space?

If left unchecked, this could create a cascade of collisions that render LEO effectively unusable and limit our ability to expand out into the solar system. Researchers call this problem the "Kessler syndrome" and are already warning that it should be tackled now, before it is too late.

Satellites also reflect light to Earth's surface, which is already causing headaches for optical astronomers. The brightest objects can photobomb telescope images with large streaks of light as they move across a camera's field of view during long exposure photos, interfering with observations of distant objects.

Hidden pollution, such as radiation leaking from Starlink satellites, is also impacting radio astronomy. If the carrying capacity is reached, some experts fear that the level of radio interference could render some types of radio astronomy completely impossible.

Rocket launches also release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which contribute to human-caused climate change. A single launch can release up to 10 times more carbon than an average commercial plane flight, although they are significantly less frequent.

Satellites can also impact the environment in other ways. As the old saying goes, "what goes up must come down" — and satellites are no exception. Emerging research has suggested that when spacecraft burn up upon reentry, they release large amounts of metallic pollution into the atmosphere. While this area of study is still young, some scientists have suggested that megaconstellations could deposit enough metal in our skies to potentially disrupt Earth's magnetic field, with potentially catastrophic results.

Although private satellites can also provide useful services, such as connecting rural and disadvantaged communities to high-speed internet, many experts question whether the benefits outweigh the potential dangers. At the very least, most experts agree that we should reduce the number of launches until we have a better idea of what's going on.

"I don't think a full stop on satellite launches would work," Boley said. "However, slowing things down and delaying the placement of 100,000 satellites until we have better international rules would be prudent."

• Editor's note: This article was originally published on Nov. 14, 2021 and updated on May 18, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. ET to reflect changes in the number of orbiting satellites and add new research into the potential impacts of megaconstellations.

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20-05-2025 om 21:56 geschreven door peter  

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20-05-2025 om 20:37 geschreven door peter  

Giant Glaciers Reshaped Earth’s Surface and Paved Way for Complex Life

By chemically analyzing crystals in ancient rocks, scientists from Curtin University, the University of Portsmouth and St. Francis Xavier University discovered that as glaciers carved through the landscape after the Neoproterozoic ‘snowball Earth’ events, they scraped deep into the Earth’s crust, releasing key minerals that altered ocean chemistry. This process had a profound impact on the Earth’s composition, creating conditions that allowed complex life to evolve.

An artist’s impression of a ‘Snowball Earth.’

Image credit: NASA.

“Our study provides valuable insights into how Earth’s natural systems are deeply interconnected,” said Curtin University Professor Chris Kirkland, lead author of the study.

“When these giant ice sheets melted, they triggered enormous floods that flushed minerals and their chemicals, including uranium, into the oceans.”

“This influx of elements changed ocean chemistry, at a time when more complex life was starting to evolve.”

“This study highlights how Earth’s land, oceans, atmosphere and climate are intimately connected- where even ancient glacial activity set off chemical chain reactions that reshaped the planet.”

The research also offers a new perspective on modern climate change.

It shows how past shifts in Earth’s climate triggered large-scale environmental transformations.

“This research is a stark reminder that while Earth itself will endure, the conditions that make it habitable can change dramatically,” Professor Kirkland said.

“These ancient climate shifts demonstrate that environmental changes, whether natural or human-driven, have profound and lasting impacts.

“Understanding these past events can help us better predict how today’s climate changes might reshape our world.”

• The findings were publsihed in the journal Geology.
• C.L. Kirkland et al. The Neoproterozoic glacial broom. Geology, published online February 25, 2025; doi: 10.1130/G52887.1

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19-05-2025 om 21:29 geschreven door peter  

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19-05-2025 om 21:14 geschreven door peter  

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19-05-2025 om 21:03 geschreven door peter  

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19-05-2025 om 20:53 geschreven door peter  

This is Ingo Swann: The Man Who Saw Jupiter’s 

By Vicky Verma

This is Ingo Swann. He worked with the CIA. He claimed he could see Jupiter while sitting millions of miles away in a room. In 1973, he saw rings around Jupiter — a detail later confirmed in 1979 by the Voyager space probe, which discovered the Jovian ring system.

Ingo Swann was an American artist who had special psychic abilities, which means he could do things like extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis or moving objects with his mind.

Because of his abilities, he took part in experiments in 1970s that showed these powers might be real. He played an important role in the study of remote viewing. He was involved in remote viewing experiments established by the U.S. Army and the CIA in collaboration with the Stanford Research Institute.

This clandestine initiative — code-named Project Stargate — later became the basis for the movie The Men Who Stare at Goats, starring George Clooney and Jeff Bridges. (Source)

In July 1971, Ingo Swann took part in an experiment during a party where people were trying to photograph signs of psychic powers in a dark room. In Swann’s photo, a ball of light appeared above his head. This event, along with other experiences, helped him realize that he had psychic abilities, which he had first noticed when he was a child.

This led him to become involved in the study of psychic phenomena.

One researcher, Gertrude Schmeidler, tested him at the American Society for Psychical Research. Swann was able to change the temperature of graphite samples without touching them. The setup was carefully controlled to avoid outside influence.

For example, the temperature sensor was kept in a thermos 25 feet away. Instructions were given in a strict, pre-planned order, alternating between trying to make things hotter or colder.

Results showed that Swann could change the temperature near the target and also cause the opposite effect in a faraway area. These changes weren’t based on physical factors like distance, but rather on mental or psychological ones.

Around the same time, Swann also worked with Cleve Backster (interrogation specialist for the CIA), who studied how plants react to thoughts and emotions.

But after a few tries, the plant stopped reacting—possibly because it “learned” nothing bad would happen. When a new threat, like acid, was imagined, the plant reacted again, but this too faded over time. They believed these meant plants might have some kind of awareness or consciousness.

Swann tried to affect a plant that was hooked up to a lie detector. When he imagined burning the leaf, the machine showed a reaction, as if the plant was stressed.

But after a few tries, the plant stopped reacting—possibly because it “learned” nothing bad would happen. When a new threat, like acid, was imagined, the plant reacted again, but this too faded over time. They believed this meant plants might have some kind of awareness or consciousness.

Swann also influenced the electrical behavior of graphite in other tests, both from nearby and remotely.

He even affected pressurized gas in small containers. Electrodes picked up changes in electron activity at the exact times he was focusing on the gas, almost like he was sending invisible energy beams into it. He called these his “psi probes.” He was also able to affect his own blood cell

Because of these successes, Swann became more deeply involved in research on psychic abilities.

Ingo Swann continued doing psychic research for a long time at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI). When he first arrived at SRI, he was tested again for his psychokinetic (PK) abilities at a nearby lab. In this test, he tried to mentally affect the magnetic field of a very sensitive device called a Josephson junction, which was inside a quark detector. (Source)

This machine is designed to pick up tiny particles smaller than atoms. The equipment was completely sealed off—it was covered with layers of aluminum and copper and buried deep in concrete, so no one could physically reach it.

During the times Swann was visualizing changes, the machine recorded unusual changes in its output. These changes couldn’t be explained by things like traffic vibrations or Swann secretly moving around.

At one point, he even managed to stop the output of the device for 45 seconds. This was such a surprising result that the only way to explain it—if you didn’t believe in PK—would be to assume that someone running the experiment was cheating or helping him, which was not the case.

In 1971, Swann took part in tests for ESP (extra-sensory perception) at the American Society for Psychical Research. He was connected to an EEG machine, which recorded his brain activity, while he lay down and tried to have an out-of-body experience.

The goal was to describe objects placed on a tray that he couldn’t see. Some of the tests were successful, especially when Swann talked about his feelings and impressions rather than trying to give exact descriptions. During the successful trials, his brain showed high alpha wave activity, a type of brain pattern that often appears in other psi experiments too.

Around the same time, a computer scientist Jacques Vallée became interested in remote viewing. Vallée learned about psi research being done at the Stanford Research Institute by Russell Targ and Hal Puthoff. He was also working there on the ARPAnet, which later evolved into the Internet.

Vallée designed a remote viewing experiment using the ARPAnet. He invited twelve people involved in psi research, including Swann, to take part. Each person was located in different parts of the US and Canada. They had to describe mineral rock samples that were hidden from view, and they typed their responses through computer terminals—making this one of the first online psychic experiments. (Source)

The samples were split into two types of tests: some where the participants knew a little about the possible targets (open series), and others where they had no clue (double-blind series).

A group of five independent judges rated the accuracy of their descriptions. Overall, the correct sample was identified in 8 out of 33 trials, which had odds of about 100 to 1 against chance—considered statistically significant. But Swann did even better. In his few attempts, he was always correct, performing well above chance.

The results supported the idea that remote viewing is real, and they challenged critics who said positive results only happen because of sloppy experimental methods. However, while the experiment did show evidence of psi, the specific thing Vallée was trying to test—his main experimental idea—didn’t succeed.

For Stargate, Swann and a group of psychics used their abilities to spy on Russia from Palo Alto, California, even remotely discovering a downed Soviet spy plane under a jungle canopy in the African country of Zaire after the U.S. Department of Defense had deemed it lost.

Swann’s various remote views of celestial bodies included: Jupiter (1973), Mercury (1974), the Moon (1975), and Mars (1975, 1976, and 1984). Selected information on these sessions is provided below. More can be found in his archives at the University of West Georgia.

In one early test, Swann was given map coordinates for ten different locations and had to identify the correct one. He got it right seven times, which is much better than random chance. He was equally successful when the coordinates were scrambled or when the places he viewed were secret locations in China or Russia, later verified by satellite images. This showed his ability was truly psychic, not just a strong memory of geography.

Swann had many impressive successes. For example, he accurately described details of the French-controlled island of Kerguelen, including a joint French-Russian weather station. He also described the rings around the planet Jupiter six years before the Voyager spacecraft confirmed them. His description of crystals in Jupiter’s atmosphere was later confirmed by the Galileo space mission.

THE 1973 REMOTE VIEWING PROBE OF THE PLANET JUPITER

In 1973, the scientific community, universities, and media strongly rejected any research into psychic or paranormal abilities, including parapsychology and psycho-energetics. So, it was surprising and shocking when the Stanford Research Institute ties to the military and intelligence agencies, began researching these topics.

One of their early experiments was called the “Jupiter Probe.” Its goal was to explore and understand how far human remote sensing abilities could reach—that is, the ability to sense or perceive things from a distance without using normal senses. Because these abilities were so unusual, the experiment was considered very radical and carefully reviewed by top scientists and supervisors before it happened.

The Jupiter Probe experiment was run by respected physicists Dr. H.E. Puthoff and Russell Targ at SRI’s Radio Physics Laboratory. Despite this, some people who don’t believe in psychic research have mocked the experiment without actually studying it carefully.

Two key points skeptics often ignore are that the Jupiter Probe was meant only as a first, exploratory test and not as a claim that remote sensing to distant planets is real. Also, skeptics tend to hide the fact that the experiment had important and respected sponsors and scientific oversight. (Source)

The experiment’s unusual subject—remote sensing a planet far away like Jupiter—was very different from the simpler psychic tests common at the time, like guessing cards. This new, bold topic made both mainstream scientists and even parapsychologists uncomfortable because it challenged accepted ideas about what is possible.

He could see how it was shining with a blinding light. He could look at it from all directions of his mind’s eye. At first, everything was seen in miniature and then everything was suddenly expanded.

“These visions are inside me, then outside. There is a yellow cast to space and seeming dark objects show through it. Can they be other moons of contrasting colors or densities? The impressions come to me that there are 17, some yet undiscovered by earth scientists, much closer to Jupiter, and the feeling also comes that some of them have been and are being spawned by the conclusive, volcanic action in the interior..,” Swann said, according to the document.”

Ingo also “saw” rings around Jupiter, but, he said that they were not as noticeable as that of Saturn.

Later, in 1979, the space probe Voyager confirmed the existence of the Jovian ring system; however, the hypothesis of its existence was put forward by the Soviet astronomer Sergey Vsehsvatskiy in the 1960s.

Scientists later confirmed thirteen surprising details Swann described.

These included things like a layer of hydrogen gas around the planet, strong storms and tornado-like cyclones, very high heat detected in infrared, unusual temperature layers, the color and shape of clouds, orange as the main color, presence of water or ice crystals in the air, and even a ring inside Jupiter’s atmosphere.

Many of these things were confirmed by scientific research between the early 1970s and late 1970s, with some confirmed as early as 1973 and others as late as 1979. Scientists initially did not believe there was a ring inside Jupiter’s atmosphere until it was officially discovered in 1979.

Swann may have also given the CIA information about ancient civilizations on Mars. The CIA started the Stargate project in 1970 because they had heard the Soviet Union was spending a lot of money on research into psychic phenomena.

Some people who don’t believe in psychic research have mocked this experiment, but they often miss two important points: first, the Jupiter remote viewing was just an initial test, not a definite claim of discovery; second, the experiment had strong support and oversight from respected scientists and organizations.

Trying to remotely sense a faraway planet was a very unusual and challenging idea, going against normal scientific beliefs and the usual parapsychology methods at the time.

Six of these thirteen factors were given scientific substantiation by 1975. Before Jupiter’s ring was “scientifically” discovered in 1979, most scientists flatly denounced the possibility of the RING. (Source)

In February 1975, Swann was contacted by a high-ranking official in Washington who warned him that a man named Axelrod would call him.

Soon after, Swann met Axelrod in a mysterious way—he was blindfolded and flown by helicopter to a secret underground place. Axelrod was not his real name, adding to the secrecy.

Axelrod told Swann that the government wanted to use his remote viewing abilities for a secret mission and offered him a large payment. Swann agreed. Axelrod asked what Swann knew about the Moon, revealing that the government wanted the Moon to be remotely viewed.

Read also:

• Ex-NASA Scientist Claims: “Consciousness Is Fundamental — Our Reality Is a Simulation”
• This Billionaire Saw Interdimensional Beings and Claims G-LOC Unlocks Out-of-Body Consciousness
• This Doctor Believes That Death Is Not the Annihilation of the Human Mind: Consciousness Continues Even When Brain Is Dead
• The Man Behind the CIA’s Consciousness Model—Killed in the Deadliest Plane Crash in U.S. History

When Swann began remote viewing the Moon, he saw surprising images. He described a huge tower, as big as a famous United Nations building, and was told it wasn’t built by humans but by unknown extraterrestrials.

In later sessions, Swann saw many strange things like dome-shaped buildings, advanced machines, tall towers, large cross-shaped structures, strange tubes, and mining activities. It seemed someone had built a secret base on the Moon.

Swann also saw a group of naked human-like people inside some kind of enclosure, digging into a cliff. Suddenly, Axelrod stopped the sessions, warning that these beings might have noticed Swann was watching and that he could be in danger.

Axelrod asked if Swann knew a man named George Leonard, who Swann did not know. Leonard was writing a book called “Somebody Else is on the Moon,” published in 1977, which described strange structures on the Moon—exactly the kind of things Axelrod was worried about.

Swann and Axelrod had several secret meetings that felt like scenes from a spy movie. These meetings ended suddenly in 1977, leaving Swann unsure if what he saw was an alien base or a secret Earth-based facility on the Moon.

The mystery is still unsolved, but it raises questions about aliens secretly using the Moon, similar to other claims about aliens on Earth.

A 1997 book, ‘Remote Viewers by Jim Schnabel’ discusses U.S. intelligence’s use of psychic spying in the 1970s. One remote viewer, Pat Price, believed that Mount Hayes in Alaska was home to a large alien base. He described these aliens as human-like but with different internal organs and the ability to control people’s minds. Price said this base caused problems for both U.S. and Soviet space missions.

FYI, in an interview with biochemist Colm Kelleher (with New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove), who wasthe  manager of AAWSAP through a contract with Bigelow Aerospace. He was also part of NIDS at Skinwalker. He also mentions an intelligence guy named Axelrod, but goes into more detail like how he was deployed in Iraq and how Axelrod was at Skinwalker along with Kelleher, Bigelow, and others, including some of their families.

In the late 1990s, Ingo Swann was studied by a neuroscience team led by Michael Persinger at Laurentian University. They wanted to understand how his brain worked during remote viewing—his reported ability to see distant places or objects using only his mind.

In their first study, they found unusual brain activity in Swann while he was successfully remote viewing. Specifically, there were 7-Hz (hertz) spikes and slow brain waves over the back part of his brain, known as the occipital lobes.

MRI scans also showed that the part of his brain where the parietal and occipital areas meet—especially on the right side—was physically and functionally different from most people’s brains.

Persinger concluded that magnetic fields could enhance Swann’s remote viewing and that specific brain activity patterns were linked to when he succeeded.

In a second study, Swann was asked to remote view images on cards, which had been exposed to patterned magnetic fields. Some cards were exposed to signals from DOS (an older computer system), and others to Windows (a newer, more complex system).

Swann could view the DOS-exposed cards accurately, but not the Windows-exposed ones. Persinger believed this was because the simpler magnetic field from DOS helped with remote viewing, while the more complicated field from Windows interfered and made it harder to focus on the target.

Swann died on January 31, 2013.

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18-05-2025 om 22:33 geschreven door peter  

Story by Wiliam Hunter

• READ MORE: NASA astronaut on the ISS shares bird's-eye view of the aurora

On Tuesday, astronomers watched as a vast 'bird wing' eruption sent waves of superheated plasma surging across the sun's northern hemisphere.

At over 600,000 miles long (one million km), the filament of solar material was more than twice as long as the distance from the Earth to the moon.

Now, scientists predict that part of this filament eruption could hit Earth tomorrow.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, aurora chaser Jure Atanackov predicted that the full force of this eruption could trigger a severe or even extreme geomagnetic storm, the highest level on official rating systems.

Stunning video recorded by NASA's solar observation satellites shows the moment that filaments of plasma 75 times larger than Earth peeled away from the sun in a pair of sweeping 'wings'.

Most of the material was shot out of the sun's north pole, so it will mostly avoid Earth.

However, astronomers say that Earth will probably receive a glancing blow from the wake of the passing storm.

That means there is an increased chance of being able to spot the Northern Lights and a risk of disruption to electrical equipment.

Astronomers have detected a 'bird wing' solar eruption emerging from the sun on Tuesday, and say it is heading for Earth 

Astronomers now warn that the enormous filament eruption could strike Earth with a glancing blow tomorrow (artist's impression)

Aurora chasers watching the eruption were shocked by its sheer size, with one saying it could cause a G5 or 'extreme' geomagnetic storm 

Solar filaments are dense ribbons of cooler solar plasma which are suspended above the sun's surface by powerful magnetic fields.

When these magnetic fields become unstable, they can release the filaments in a violent eruption. 

Jake Foster, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told MailOnline: 'Loops of hot plasma can sprout up from the Sun’s surface, following along its magnetic field lines, and occasionally they break free and shoot off into space at high speeds.'

Related video: The Sun’s Magnetic Field Is Weakening—What Does This Mean for Earth? (Weather-Fox)

Sometimes this triggers an event called a coronal mass ejection, a wave of plasma and magnetic fields which is launched into space.

It is the arrival of these coronal mass ejections (CMEs) which trigger geomagnetic storms and enhanced auroral activity on Earth.

As astronomers observed, this is exactly what happened on Tuesday as two huge filaments became unstable and collapsed, triggering a huge CME.

As the filament eruption tore away from the sun's surface, eagerly-watching aurora chasers were amazed by the sheer scale of the blast.

Mr Atanackov wrote in a post on X that the blast 'dwarfs all the filament eruptions we have seen recently.'

At over 600,000 miles long (one million km), the filament of solar material was more than twice as long as the distance from the Earth to the moon

Northern Lights photographer Vincent Ledvina dubbed it the 'bird-wing' or 'angel-wing' eruption 

The Met Office predicts that the arrival of the solar eruption could create a chance to see the Northern Lights over Scotland 

Likewise, Northern Lights photographer Vincent Ledvina said: 'Not sure what to call this eruption, maybe the "bird-wing" or "angel-wing" event? Either way, it is truly something to witness! Look at how large the blast is off the Sun's northern hemisphere.'

In her solar forecast, space weather physicist Dr Tamitha Skov reported a 'massive dual filament launch that could give Earth a glancing blow.'

When a filament eruption escapes the solar surface, it leaves behind a cool 'scar' on the sun, which shows up as a dark region in solar imaging cameras.

While it initially appeared that most of the blast had been directed northward, away from Earth, the remains scars suggested that some of the eruption could be coming our way.

Dr Skov said: 'You’d think this was just going northward. But, believe it or not, the scar from this thing as it lifted off the sun makes us think that maybe there's part of this that’s Earth-directed.'

It is considered likely that part of the CME or its wake will hit Earth tomorrow, causing a minor geomagnetic storm and lingering effects for a few days.

Mr Foster says: 'These eruptions are huge collections of high energy solar particles, so when they hit the Earth’s atmosphere they can cause a few different effects. 

'With enough energy, they have the potential to cause a geomagnetic storm, temporarily blocking out radio communications and satellite navigation in certain areas. 

Cool regions known as scars left by the filament eruption indicate that some of the coronal mass ejection is heading towards Earth 

'On the more serious end of the scale, they can cause an overload to electrical infrastructure, damaging the power grid and railway lines, and potentially even sparking electrical fires.'

Additionally, as charged particles from the sun arrive, they are channelled towards the poles by the planet's powerful magnetic fields.

These particles then collide with nitrogen and oxygen in the air, transferring their energy into the gases and causing them to glow, in an effect we see as the aurora.

Since the Earth's magnetic fields protect us extremely well from these charged particles, auroras are only normally visible close to the magnetic poles.

Although Dr Skov predicts a 20 per cent chance of a major storm occurring, the chances of significant geomagnetic activity are low.

Stephen Dixon, Met Office spokesperson, told MailOnline: 'A coronal mass ejection could possibly glance the Earth later this evening and could lead to aurora being visible in northern Scotland, though there is low confidence in this.

'Should it occur, skies are relatively clear, but viewers might need to take a photo with a long exposure.'

Earth could be hit by 600,000 mile-wide 'bird wing' solar eruption TOMORROW, astronomers warn

 { https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

17-05-2025 om 22:55 geschreven door peter  

An image of a solar prominence, also know as a solar filament.

© Anecdonet Com/Getty Images

A massive solar filament over 600,000 miles long erupted from the sun's northern hemisphere earlier this week, in a dramatic event dubbed a 'bird wing' eruption by scientists.

Why It Matters

This filament, more than twice the distance between Earth and the moon, was captured by satellites peeling away from the sun in "wings" 75 times larger than Earth.

Specialists indicated that any impact would likely increase auroral activity and could trigger a minor geomagnetic storm.

The eruption, made up of superheated plasma and charged particles, raised concerns of potential disruptions, but its impact was minimal.

(X/@TamithaSkov)

What To Know

The eruption occurred late on Monday into Tuesday, according to Space.com.

Most solar material was headed away from Earth, but scientists expressed concerns about a glancing blow, according to the Daily Mail. If this happens, the most likely results would be enhanced auroral displays, particularly at high latitudes and a minor geomagnetic disturbance.

According to NASA, a solar filament is a vast, luminous structure that projects outward from the Sun's surface. These features are rooted in the photosphere and stretch outward into the Sun's hot outer atmosphere, known as the corona. Prominences typically take about a day to form, and those that remain stable can endure in the corona for several months, arching hundreds of thousands of miles into space.

Jake Foster, astronomer at the U.K.'s Royal Observatory Greenwich, told the Mail that eruptions of this type can cause geomagnetic storms, potentially blocking out radio communications and disrupting satellite navigation in some areas.

"Based on the current forecasts, it looks like at most a minor geomagnetic storm, with an increased chance of high latitude aurora, but probably not making it mid latitudes."

What People Are Saying

• Krista Hammond, a space weather expert at the U.K.'s Met Office told Newsweek: "On Tuesday we observed an eruption of plasma from the Sun which a very common event at this point in the solar cycle. Because of where this left the Sun, the vast majority of the material will miss Earth. This means that even if we do receive a glancing blow from the eruption, it will be 

• Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov said on X, formerly Twitter, Tuesday: "The Earth-facing side of our Sun has been taking a bit of a nap recently, but finally did something noteworthy! Check out this gorgeous "bird wing" filament eruption today. Thus far, it looks like it will mostly miss us, but we could get the wake of the structure passing by Earth sometime May 16."

What Happens Next

"We've seen some more activity from a sunspot region that recently rotated on to the front side of the disk, but because that's not yet well connected to us it's not causing too much in the way of disturbance at the moment," Matthews said.

"That may change in the coming days as it rotates further towards the West limb of the sun though."

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17-05-2025 om 22:34 geschreven door peter  

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17-05-2025 om 17:22 geschreven door peter  

The Cosmic Origins of Life: Exploring the Evidence for Panspermia and Earth's Biological Heritage

Abstract:
Recent scientific developments have rekindled interest in the hypothesis that life on Earth may have extraterrestrial origins. This dissertation examines the multifaceted evidence supporting this idea, including the concept of life from space, the historical trajectory of the panspermia theory, cosmic chemistry of life's ingredients, and Earth's resilience in hosting life. We explore critical perspectives, the gaps in current knowledge, and the notion of a universe that breathes life. The synthesis of these themes suggests that Earth's biosphere may be a product of cosmic seeding, challenging traditional Earth-centric origins and opening new avenues for astrobiology.

Introduction

The origin of life on Earth remains one of the most profound scientific mysteries. While many scientists favor the hypothesis of abiogenesis—life arising from non-living matter—an alternative perspective posits that life was seeded from space, either via comets, meteorites, or cosmic dust. This concept, known as panspermia, has gained renewed interest due to discoveries of complex organic molecules in space and the resilience of microorganisms under harsh conditions. This dissertation delves into why some scientists now consider that Earth's life may have extraterrestrial roots, exploring scientific evidence, historical ideas, and cosmic chemistry.

1. Life from Space: The Forgotten Idea That Never Quite Died

The question of life's origins has fascinated humanity for centuries. For much of this period, most scientific and philosophical thought centered on the idea that life began uniquely on Earth—spontaneously emerging from the primordial "soup" of chemicals, driven by natural processes. This terrestrial origin theory dominated scientific discourse and public imagination. However, an alternative concept, often overshadowed by these mainstream ideas, has persisted through history: that life or its fundamental building blocks originate beyond our planet. This notion, known as panspermia, suggests that life may have extraterrestrial origins, arriving on Earth via space-faring objects such as comets, meteorites, or cosmic dust.

While the idea that life might have cosmic beginnings was largely neglected or dismissed for centuries, recent scientific discoveries have rekindled interest in this hypothesis. In particular, the detection of organic molecules—complex carbon-based compounds essential for life—in space rocks has provided compelling evidence that the ingredients for life are widespread throughout the universe. One of the most famous cases is the Murchison meteorite, which fell in Australia in 1969. Analysis of this meteorite revealed the presence of amino acids—the fundamental building blocks of proteins, which are crucial for the development of life as we know it. The discovery indicated that complex organic molecules could form naturally in space and be transported across vast distances, challenging the notion that life’s origins are solely Earth-bound.

This resurgence of interest in extraterrestrial origins can be traced back to the ideas of ancient philosophers and scientists. The Greek philosopher Anaxagoras, for instance, speculated that life might have originated elsewhere and been transported to Earth. Moving forward to the early 20th century, Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius revived the concept in a more scientific framework. Arrhenius proposed that microscopic organisms could be propelled through space embedded within dust particles or comets, traveling across the cosmos and seeding planets like Earth with life. His ideas laid the groundwork for what would later be called panspermia—a term derived from the Greek words “pan” (all) and “sperma” (seed).

Panspermia is not merely a hypothesis about the movement of microorganisms; it encompasses a broader view that life’s building blocks, or even primitive life forms, can survive the harsh conditions of space and the entry into planetary atmospheres. This idea is appealing because it circumvents many of the difficulties faced by the traditional abiogenesis theory, which posits that life arose spontaneously from inorganic chemicals in Earth's primordial environment. Instead, panspermia suggests that life was "seeded" on Earth from extraterrestrial sources, perhaps during its violent early history when the planet was bombarded by comets and meteorites.

The persistence of the panspermia hypothesis demonstrates its resilience in scientific discussions. It also reflects a shift in understanding that the universe is replete with organic molecules. Recent space missions and telescopic observations have confirmed that the building blocks of life are abundant in space. For example, the detection of amino acids and other organic compounds in comets and meteorites implies that the universe is a chemically rich environment where prebiotic chemistry occurs naturally.

The significance of these discoveries extends beyond mere chemical abundance. They suggest that the basic ingredients necessary for life are not unique to Earth but are widespread throughout the cosmos. This notion has profound implications for astrobiology—the scientific study of life's potential in the universe. If organic molecules are common, it raises the possibility that life, or at least its precursors, could also be common in other planetary systems. This, in turn, fuels the debate about the likelihood of extraterrestrial life existing elsewhere in the universe.

Furthermore, the idea that life could be transported through space provides a plausible mechanism for how life might have originated on Earth. During the tumultuous period of its formation, Earth was subject to intense asteroid and comet impacts. These collisions could have carried organic molecules or primitive microorganisms, effectively delivering the necessary ingredients or even viable life forms to the young planet. Such "impact delivery" processes could have jump-started biological evolution, providing a biological inventory that would otherwise take immeasurable time to assemble from scratch.

In recent decades, advances in microbiology have shown that some microorganisms are remarkably resilient. Certain species can survive extreme conditions, including high radiation levels, vacuum, and temperature fluctuations—conditions typical of space environments. Experiments conducted on the International Space Station and in laboratory settings have demonstrated that some microbes can endure the journey through space, supporting the feasibility of panspermia.

Despite its intriguing potential, the panspermia hypothesis remains controversial and is not universally accepted. Critics argue that while organic molecules are widespread, the transfer of viable microorganisms across space is improbable given the extreme conditions involved. Moreover, even if life or its building blocks arrived from space, questions remain about whether this explains the origin of life itself or simply transfers the problem elsewhere.

Nevertheless, the idea that life might have cosmic origins continues to inspire scientific research and philosophical pondering. Missions like the European Space Agency's Rosetta probe, which analyzed the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, and NASA’s ongoing explorations of Mars and icy moons aim to uncover more evidence of extraterrestrial organic compounds or microbial life. These endeavors could eventually confirm or refute the panspermia hypothesis, shedding light on one of the most profound questions in science: where did life come from?

In conclusion, the idea of life from space—the notion that life or its building blocks arrived on Earth via cosmic carriers—remains a captivating and scientifically plausible hypothesis. With accumulating evidence of organic molecules in space and the resilience of microorganisms, the "forgotten" idea continues to challenge the terrestrial-centric view of life's origins. As our understanding of the universe expands, so too does the possibility that life is not unique to Earth but a widespread phenomenon, born in the stars and carried across the cosmos.

2. Cosmic Chemistry: Tracing Life’s Ingredients Across the Solar System

The concept of cosmic chemistry explores the fascinating idea that the fundamental building blocks of life are not exclusive to Earth but are instead widespread throughout the solar system. Advances in astrochemistry—a field that combines astronomy and chemistry—have significantly expanded our understanding of how complex organic molecules form and distribute in space. These molecules, including amino acids, sugars, and nucleobases, are crucial components in the chemistry of life as we know it. Their presence across various celestial bodies suggests that the ingredients for life are common in the cosmos, potentially supporting theories like panspermia, which proposes that life or its precursors could be transferred between planets via space debris.

One of the key methods scientists use to study cosmic organic molecules is through astronomical observations with telescopes and dedicated space missions. These tools allow researchers to analyze the atmospheres of planets and moons, as well as the composition of comets and asteroids. Comets, often called "dirty snowballs," contain a mixture of ice, dust, and organic compounds that have remained relatively unchanged since the early solar system. Space missions such as the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft have provided direct evidence of organic molecules within comets. In 2014, the Rosetta mission’s analysis of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko confirmed the presence of amino acids and other complex organic compounds. This discovery was groundbreaking because it demonstrated that comets carry essential ingredients for life, which could have been delivered to Earth and other planets during the solar system's formation.

Similarly, meteorites—fragments of asteroids that have fallen to Earth—have been found to contain rich assemblages of organic molecules. The Murchison meteorite, which fell in Australia in 1969, is famous for its complex organic composition, including amino acids, hydrocarbons, and other prebiotic molecules. These findings suggest that organic chemistry occurs naturally in space and that such materials can survive the intense conditions of atmospheric entry and impact, ultimately reaching planetary surfaces where they might contribute to prebiotic chemistry.

A snapshot of the surface of the near-Earth carbonaceous asteroid Ryugu taken by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft just before landing.

Credit: JAXA / U. Tokyo / Kochi U./Rikkyo U./Nagoya U./Chiba Inst. Tech./Meiji U./U. Aizu / AIST

Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission, which targeted asteroid Ryugu, exemplifies recent efforts to analyze space-derived organics. Launched in 2014, Hayabusa2 collected samples from Ryugu and returned them to Earth in 2020. Preliminary analysis of these samples indicates that Ryugu’s material is rich in organic compounds, including amino acids, which are essential building blocks of proteins. Interestingly, nucleobases such as uracil—important components of RNA—have also been detected in the samples. The presence of uracil is particularly significant because it plays a key role in genetic information storage and transfer in living organisms

However, despite these exciting discoveries, some organic molecules, notably sugars such as ribose, have not yet been identified in the samples. The absence of sugars may be due to limitations in current analytical techniques or the small size of the collected samples, which makes detection more challenging. It is also possible that sugars are present but in quantities below the current detection thresholds or that they are more fragile and have degraded over time. Future advancements in analytical methods and the collection of larger or more pristine samples could help determine whether sugars and other complex molecules are more widespread in space than current data suggest.

The formation of complex organic molecules in space occurs through various processes driven by energetic phenomena. Ultraviolet radiation from stars can induce chemical reactions in icy grain mantles, leading to the synthesis of complex organics. Shock chemistry—caused by collisions and shock waves in molecular clouds—also facilitates the formation of prebiotic molecules. These processes demonstrate that the chemistry necessary for life can occur naturally in the harsh environments of space, without the need for biological activity. Once formed, these molecules can be incorporated into comets, asteroids, and other small bodies, which may then deliver their organic cargo to planetary surfaces during impacts.

The delivery of organic molecules from space to Earth and other planets has profound implications for the origins of life. It suggests that the building blocks of life are not unique to Earth but are instead distributed throughout the cosmos. This widespread distribution increases the likelihood that life—or at least its precursors—could emerge elsewhere or be transferred from one celestial body to another through mechanisms like panspermia. If these molecules can survive the conditions of space and the process of landing on a planet, they could serve as the initial substrates for prebiotic chemistry, eventually leading to the emergence of living organisms.

In summary, the study of cosmic chemistry reveals that complex organic molecules are common across the solar system. Discoveries from space missions, meteorite analyses, and astronomical observations show that amino acids, nucleobases, and other prebiotic compounds are synthesized in space and can survive the rigors of space travel and planetary impact. Although some molecules like sugars have yet to be definitively detected in extraterrestrial samples, ongoing research continues to uncover the rich organic inventory present in our cosmic neighborhood. These findings support the idea that the ingredients for life are widespread, making the emergence of life on Earth and possibly elsewhere in the universe an increasingly plausible scenario. As analytical techniques improve and new samples are studied, our understanding of the distribution and diversity of cosmic organics will deepen, shedding light on the fundamental question of whether life is unique to Earth or a common feature of the universe.

3. Life’s Brutal Resilience; Earth Was Ready. Maybe Too Ready

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence supporting the theory of cosmic seeding—also known as panspermia—is the extraordinary resilience of life, particularly microorganisms, to extreme conditions. This resilience suggests that life, once originating or arriving in space, could survive the harsh journey through the cosmos and successfully establish itself on hospitable planets like Earth.

• The Resilience of Microorganisms

Microorganisms such as tardigrades, bacterial spores, and certain extremophiles are renowned for their ability to withstand environments that would be lethal to most forms of life. Tardigrades, colloquially called "water bears," have demonstrated the capacity to survive the vacuum of space, intense radiation, and temperature extremes. Experiments conducted on these resilient creatures, notably the European Space Agency’s EXPOSE mission aboard the International Space Station, have shown that some microbes can endure prolonged exposure to the vacuum and radiation of space. These findings are significant because they indicate that biological material could survive the interplanetary travel embedded within comets or meteorites.

Bacterial spores, in particular, are highly resistant dormant forms capable of withstanding radiation, desiccation, and extreme temperatures. Their hardy nature makes them prime candidates for surviving the journey across space. When embedded within celestial bodies like comets or meteorites, these spores could potentially be shielded from the most damaging elements of space, remaining viable until they reach a hospitable environment.

• Interplanetary Transfer and Survival

The concept of microbial survival during interplanetary transfer is supported by the understanding that celestial bodies such as comets and meteorites frequently collide with planets. These impacts could eject material from one planet and send it hurtling through space, carrying embedded microorganisms. This process, known as lithopanspermia, posits that life—or at least its building blocks—can be transferred between planets.

Once these microbial-laden rocks arrive at a planet like Earth, the question becomes whether they can survive the entry process and establish themselves. Given their resilience, some microbes could endure the intense heat generated during atmospheric entry. Moreover, once on the surface, they could find niches—such as underground caves, hydrothermal vents, or other protected environments—where conditions are suitable for survival and proliferation.

• Earth’s Early Environment: A Perfect Host

Earth’s early environment, roughly 4.5 billion years ago, was a tumultuous and volatile place. Its surface was dominated by volcanic activity, frequent asteroid impacts, and a thick, toxic atmosphere. Despite these harsh conditions, Earth was also abundant in water, which is essential for life, and energy sources such as volcanic vents and lightning strikes. These conditions created a dynamic and energetic environment conducive to the emergence and spread of life.

The idea that Earth was "ready" for life hinges on the notion that the planet’s early conditions provided the necessary ingredients—water, energy, and protective niches—for any resilient microorganisms arriving from space to take hold and flourish. The presence of water, in particular, is critical; it acts as a solvent for biochemical reactions and provides a medium where life can develop and evolve.

• A Cosmic Perspective on Life’s Origin

This resilience and the early conditions of Earth suggest a paradigm shift in the narrative of life's origins. Instead of viewing Earth as the sole cradle of life, the cosmic seeding hypothesis posits that life is an intrinsic feature of the universe—pervasive and ready to emerge whenever conditions align. Microorganisms with the ability to survive interstellar journeys could have been transported across the cosmos, seeding planets with life whenever they became suitable environments.

This perspective implies that life might be far more common in the universe than previously assumed. The universe’s vastness and the resilience of microbial life increase the possibility that life exists elsewhere, perhaps even thriving on other planets or moons with environments similar to early Earth. It also suggests that Earth's biosphere may have been "seeded" from space, rather than originating solely from terrestrial chemical processes.

• Conclusion

In summary, the resilience of microorganisms to space's extreme conditions supports the idea that life could be a cosmic phenomenon, capable of traveling across the universe and establishing itself on worlds like Earth. The early Earth's volatile but water-rich environment provided an ideal setting for such hardy microbes to survive and proliferate. This interplay between cosmic resilience and planetary readiness paints a picture of life as an intrinsic, resilient feature of the universe—ready to emerge whenever the conditions are right. It challenges traditional notions of Earth's unique emergence of life, opening the door to the possibility that life is more widespread and interconnected than previously imagined.

4. Critics and Cosmic Gaps

The panspermia hypothesis presents an intriguing explanation for the origins of life on Earth, suggesting that life, or at least its building blocks, arrived from extraterrestrial sources. However, despite its appeal, this theory faces significant criticism and unresolved scientific questions that challenge its plausibility.

One of the primary concerns revolves around the mechanism of transfer. While it’s hypothesized that microbes or organic molecules could have hitchhiked on space debris such as comets or meteorites, the actual process of transfer remains uncertain. For life to survive the journey through space, it must endure extreme conditions, including intense radiation, vacuum, and temperature fluctuations. Critics argue that the survival of microbes during ejection from their parent planet, their transit through the harsh environment of space, and finally during entry into Earth’s atmosphere is highly improbable. The physical forces involved—such as high-velocity impacts and atmospheric friction—could easily destroy microbial life, making the successful transfer a rare and uncertain event.

Beyond the transfer process, significant cosmic gaps exist in understanding how complex life, particularly multicellular organisms, could have emerged solely from microbial seeding. The transition from simple organic molecules to self-replicating, evolving life involves numerous intricate steps. While organic molecules such as amino acids and nucleotides have been detected in space, the leap from these basic compounds to the formation of primitive life forms remains only partially understood. The pathway through which these molecules assembled into more complex structures capable of replication, metabolism, and eventual cellular organization is still a subject of intense research and debate. Many scientists believe that local prebiotic chemistry on Earth, driven by natural processes, might have sufficed to produce life independently, without extraterrestrial input.

Another critical issue is the lack of direct evidence supporting extraterrestrial life. Despite extensive searches—such as the analysis of meteorites, space missions, and telescopic observations—scientists have yet to find definitive proof that life exists elsewhere in the universe or that it has been transported to Earth. This absence of concrete evidence leaves the panspermia hypothesis within the realm of possibility rather than established fact.

Furthermore, some researchers argue that Earth’s own prebiotic chemistry could explain the origin of life without invoking extraterrestrial sources. The early Earth had a rich environment of organic molecules, water, and energy sources like volcanic activity and lightning, which could have fostered the spontaneous formation of life through natural chemical reactions. This perspective suggests that life’s emergence was an inherent outcome of Earth’s conditions, challenging the necessity of cosmic seeding.

In conclusion, while panspermia offers a compelling narrative for the potential extraterrestrial origins of life, it faces significant scientific hurdles. These include uncertainties about the transfer mechanism, gaps in understanding the transition from simple molecules to complex organisms, and the lack of direct evidence. As scientific techniques advance, future research may clarify these issues, but presently, the hypothesis remains an intriguing yet unconfirmed explanation for the origins of life on Earth.

5. A Universe That Breathes Life

The concept of a universe that breathes life is an intriguing and revolutionary perspective that challenges conventional understanding of cosmology and biology. Emerging theories suggest that life is not a rare accident confined solely to Earth but is, in fact, a fundamental component of the universe itself. This idea posits that the universe actively participates in the creation, distribution, and perhaps even the sustenance of life, giving rise to a dynamic, interconnected cosmic ecosystem.

At the core of this theory is the notion that the universe is a living, breathing entity—often described metaphorically as a "breathing universe." This metaphor implies that cosmic processes are ongoing and cyclical, continually generating and dispersing the building blocks of life. These processes include stellar formations, supernova explosions, planetary system developments, and cosmic dust circulation—all of which play roles in synthesizing organic molecules, complex compounds, and potentially even life forms. The universe, in this view, is not a static expanse but a vibrant, evolving system that actively fosters the emergence and dissemination of life.

One key element of this paradigm is the idea that organic molecules and microorganisms are not confined to Earth but are circulating between celestial bodies. Evidence from meteorites and comets has already shown that organic compounds can survive the harsh conditions of space travel, suggesting that the seeds of life can be transported across the cosmos. This process, known as panspermia, supports the notion that life can be seeded from one planet or star system to another, effectively creating a cosmic web of biological material. Such exchanges would imply that life is more widespread than previously believed, and that Earth’s biosphere is part of a larger, interconnected network of life-bearing worlds.

Furthermore, this perspective aligns with the hypothesis that many planets and moons throughout the universe could host their own biospheres. Places like Europa, Enceladus, and Titan—moons of Jupiter and Saturn—are considered promising candidates due to their subsurface oceans and chemical compositions conducive to life. If the universe is indeed a "breathing" entity, it would mean that life is a natural and inevitable outcome of cosmic processes, arising independently on multiple worlds. This broadens the scope of astrobiology and shifts the focus from searching for isolated instances of extraterrestrial life to understanding the universe as a whole as a cradle for life.

The implications of a universe that sustains and propagates life extend beyond scientific curiosity; they challenge traditional, Earth-centric views of our place in the cosmos. Instead of considering Earth as a unique oasis of life, we would recognize it as part of a vast, interconnected biosphere that spans countless worlds. This interconnectedness suggests a cosmic ecosystem where life is continually rejuvenated and enriched by extraterrestrial sources, creating a dynamic interplay that sustains life across the universe.

Such a paradigm also raises profound philosophical questions about the nature of life and consciousness. If the universe is inherently hospitable and actively involved in creating life, then perhaps life itself is a fundamental aspect of the universe’s fabric—an intrinsic property rather than a rare anomaly. This perspective invites us to reconsider the origins of life, not as a fortunate happenstance but as an essential feature of cosmic evolution.

In conclusion, the idea of a universe that breathes life offers a compelling and expansive view of our universe. It encourages us to see cosmic processes not just as physical phenomena but as vital, life-generating mechanisms. Recognizing the universe as a living, breathing entity that sustains and disperses life fundamentally alters our understanding of existence and our place within this grand cosmic tapestry. It opens new horizons for scientific exploration, philosophical reflection, and our sense of connection to the cosmos—reminding us that we are part of an ongoing, vibrant dance of life that spans the universe.

Conclusion

The hypothesis that Earth was seeded by life from space remains a compelling and evolving scientific narrative. Evidence from cosmic chemistry, the resilience of microorganisms, and the widespread presence of organic molecules in space support the possibility that life’s origins may be cosmic rather than solely terrestrial. While challenges and gaps in understanding persist, the idea that life could be a cosmic phenomenon encourages a broader perspective on our origins and our universe.

As research advances with new space missions and laboratory experiments, the line between Earth life and extraterrestrial life continues to blur. Recognizing Earth as part of a cosmic network of life-bearing worlds could profoundly influence our understanding of biology, evolution, and the universe itself.

References

1. Arrhenius, S. (1908). Worlds in the Making. Harper & Brothers.
2. Ehrenfreund, P., & Charnley, S. B. (2000). Organic molecules in the interstellar medium, comets, and meteorites: a voyage from dark clouds to the early Earth. Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 38, 427–483.
3. Flynn, G. J., et al. (2000). Organic matter in the Murchison meteorite: a review. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 64(3), 391–399.
4. Pearce, A., et al. (2017). Organic molecules in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko suggest an early Solar System reservoir of prebiotic molecules. Nature Astronomy, 1, 0095.
5. Horneck, G., et al. (2010). Microbial resistance to space conditions. International Journal of Astrobiology, 9(2), 65–74.
6. Wallis, M. K., & Wickramasinghe, N. C. (2004). Panspermia: the origin of life from space. International Journal of Astrobiology, 3(2), 41–45.

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16-05-2025 om 23:39 geschreven door peter  

Lights on Mars! NASA rover photographs visible auroras on Red Planet for the first time

In addition to being the first visible auroras on Mars, the faint green lights are believed to be the first auroras anywhere in the solar system to be captured using only visible wavelengths of light.

The new findings raise hopes that human eyes will one day witness auroras on another world firsthand. Under the right circumstances, Martian auroras "will be visible to future astronauts," the researchers wrote.

Related: 

• 32 stunning photos of auroras seen from space

The new photo was not captured by chance. Instead, researchers realized that the CME would likely hit Mars, so they positioned Perseverance's Mastcam-Z camera toward the Martian night sky in anticipation of catching a glimpse. However, even then, they were not confident they would see a visible aurora.

This also marks the first time a Martian aurora has been detected from the planet's surface. Until now, all observations have been captured by orbiting spacecraft, such as NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) probe and the UAE's Emirates Mars Mission orbiter.

Lights on Mars

Visible auroras were long assumed to be impossible on Mars because its atmosphere is extremely diffuse; the planet lacks a proper planet-wide magnetic field, which has allowed the solar wind and past solar storms to strip away most of Mars' air. However, the new image proves that there is still enough gas to emit the colorful lights.

Analysis of the auroras' green hues revealed that the light was emitted by excited oxygen molecules, which make up around 0.13% of Mars' limited atmosphere, according to Live Science's sister site Space.com. The low concentration of the gas, combined with high levels of dust in the air, is why the light from the auroras is barely visible in the photo.

The auroras were so weak that the light was apparent only after the glare from Mars' largest moon, Phobos, was edited out of the photo, which is why the image above is split in half.

It is unlikely that humans could have seen such weak auroras. However, the researchers think a higher dose of solar particles, coupled with reduced atmospheric dust, could allow the phenomenon to be visible to the naked eye in the future.

At night, another type of green, aurora-like light — known as airglow — can occur near the planet's poles and may be visible to future astronauts. This phenomenon occurs when oxygen molecules ionized by the sun cool down and recombine, releasing excess energy in the process. However, the newly observed auroras emitted a wavelength separate from any observed Martian airglow, which strongly hints that they are a new phenomenon.

Extraterrestrial auroras

Every other solar system world with an atmosphere — Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune — is home to some sort of extraterrestrial aurora. However, as with Mars, these alien light shows occur in non-visible parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, including ultraviolet, infrared and X-ray light.

For distant worlds beyond the orbit of Mars, these auroras are triggered mainly by a constant stream of charged solar particles, known as the solar wind. However, some planets, such as Jupiter, can also experience extremely powerful auroras due to other phenomena, including magnetic anomalies triggered by these worlds' giant moons, recent research has revealed.

For planets closer to the sun — like Venus, Earth and Mars — more violent space weather events, such as CMEs, can also trigger auroras. Despite having virtually no atmosphere, Mercury has also been known to experience aurora-like X-ray emissions near its surface when the sun's closest neighbor is frequently hit by solar storms.

Large-scale solar outbursts have become more common in recent years as the sun has reached the peak of its roughly 11-year cycle of activity, known as solar maximum, when solar storms become more frequent and more intense. At various points, scientists have used Mars rovers to spy on the sun's far side, to predict when hidden CMEs may impact Earth.

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16-05-2025 om 01:03 geschreven door peter  

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16-05-2025 om 00:17 geschreven door peter  

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15-05-2025 om 23:33 geschreven door peter