NASA finds Alien Micro-Organism

[Ton]

It's a few days old but I didn't see this anywhere, and considering this is truly an incredible finding I think its worth the discussion.





Link

Aliens exist, and we have proof.



That astonishingly awesome claim comes from Dr. Richard B. Hoover, an astrobiologist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, who says he has found conclusive evidence of alien life — fossils of bacteria found in an extremely rare class of meteorite called CI1 carbonaceous chondrites. (There are only nine such meteorites on planet Earth.) Hoover’s findings were published late Friday night in the Journal of Cosmology, a peer-reviewed scientific journal.



“I interpret it as indicating that life is more broadly distributed than restricted strictly to the planet earth,” Hoover, who has spent more than 10 years studying meteorites around the world, told FoxNews.com in an interview. “This field of study has just barely been touched — because quite frankly, a great many scientist [sic] would say that this is impossible.”



Hoover discovered the fossils by breaking apart the CI1 meteorite, and analyzing the exposed rock with a scanning-electron microscope and a field emission electron-scanning microscope, which allowed him to detect any fossil remains. What he found were fossils of micro-organisms (pictured below), many of which he says are strikingly similar to those found on our own planet (pictured above).



alien-life-figure-4a“The exciting thing is that they are in many cases recognizable and can be associated very closely with the generic species here on earth,” said Hoover. Some of the fossils, however, are quite odd. “There are some that are just very strange and don’t look like anything that I’ve been able to identify, and I’ve shown them to many other experts that have also come up stump.”



In order to satisfy the inevitable hoard of buzz-killing skeptics, Hoover’s study and evidence were made available to his peers in the scientific community in advance of the study’s publications, giving them a chance to thoroughly dissect his findings. Comments from those who decided to sift through the evidence will be published online, alongside the study.



“Given the controversial nature of his discovery, we have invited 100 experts and have issued a general invitation to over 5,000 scientists from the scientific community to review the paper and to offer their critical analysis,” writes Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics scientist Dr. Rudy Schild, who serves as the Journal of Cosmology’s editor-in-chief. “No other paper in the history of science has undergone such a thorough vetting, and never before in the history of science has the scientific community been given the opportunity to critically analyze an important research paper before it is published.”



Needless to say, if Hoover’s conclusions are found to be accurate, the implications for human life will be staggering. Here’s hoping that he’s right.



Update: While the Journal of Cosmology says that “no other paper in the history of science has undergone such a thorough vetting,” some highly respected names in the scientific community are challenging the validity of Cosmology, and the findings of Dr. Hoover.



“[The Journal of Cosmology] isn’t a real science journal at all,” says PZ Meyers in Science Blogs, “but is the ginned-up website of a small group of crank academics obsessed with the idea of Hoyle and Wickramasinghe that life originated in outer space and simply rained down on Earth.”



So there you have it — this is either reality-altering news, or the work of kooks. Our hearts believe, but our brains are kind of bummed.



Edit: This article has been updated with an additional photograph and altered for clarity.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

All I've read is people discounting this guy... one scientist called it "garbage".

 

[Ton]

Why? Because they didn't find it first? I don't see how this is "garbage" if he found this off a meteorite.

 

[MassHavoc]

All I've read is people discounting this guy... one scientist called it "garbage".

Yeah, that's what it says at the end of the article...





Journal of Cosmology... more like Journal of Cosmetology. Concealers and Cover-up HIYO.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Why? Because they didn't find it first? I don't see how this is "garbage" if he found this off a meteorite.

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/07/134341801/scientists-doubt-meteorite-carried-life-to-earth



http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/03/07/alien-life-meteorites-skeptics-believers-weigh/

"The variety and complexity of chemical interactions over the unknown, potentially 4 billion year history of these meteorites leaves room for an as-yet-unidentified inorganic process which could have created them." -- Cody Youngbull, Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute



"Dr. Hoover's work is a remarkable achievement. However, I think his findings of what may be fossil Cyanobacteria and other bacteria in meteorites cannot give a definitive answer to the origin of the life in our planet." -- Paolo Pasquinelli, Ph.D., Laboratorio di ricerca sociale, Università di Pisa, Italy



"In my opinion, Dr. Hoover was overly cautious in referring to the observed subjects as 'complex filaments.' Any experienced microbiologist can see these are fragments of cyanobacterial mats. In nature cyanobacterial mat represents a complex system, where symbiotic relations between algae (usually dominated by Cyanobacteria) and bacteria create tissue-like formations." -- Elena Pikuta, University of Alabama



"I am not convinced that the bacteriomorphic structures identified by Dr. Hoover are fossilized bacteria. Instead, I propose as provocative speculation that a variety of alien life different from modern earthly microrganisms are inside meteorites as well as inside rocks of our planet (Geraci et al. 2001) and other moons of our solar system. These 'seeds of life,' that is, actual living organisms are dormant and waiting, across time and space, for the right conditions to emerge, after which, they may begin to evolve." -- Rosanna del Gaudio, Dept of Biological Sciences, University Federico II, Italy



"Hoover's result suggests that indeed there are ecologies outside of this fragile Earth." -- Frank J. Tipler, with the Dept. of Mathematics and Physics, Tulane University





Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011...rites-skeptics-believers-weigh/#ixzz1FxLvpqyX

 

[TSD]

I had heard about this, but didn't want to get too excited over something that may be nothing.



Ton, the problem is, not all the scientists that have studied the meteorite, conclude that they are in fact the fossils of organisms present. Thats where the controversy is.

 

[Pez68]

Accurate or not, I'm in the camp that really doesn't need evidence that there is life outside of our planet to believe it. I mean seriously. What are the odds that our planet is the ONLY planet in the universe with life, given what we know about the size of the universe? Pretty fucking unbelievable. These type of beliefs are akin to people thinking the Earth is flat, the sun rotates around the Earth, not knowing of other continents and other civilizations, etc. Nobody will really know anything for certain until we start exploring space like we explored our planet. When the technology is there, someone will just need to get in a spaceship, pick a direction where we see a shitload of planets and galaxies, and just fly off until they find something. I mean, Astronomers estimate that there are something like 50 billion planets, just in the Milky Way alone... Then consider that there are something like 100 billion galaxies, just in the currently observable universe. The odds that our planet is the only one, out of the billions of billions of planets... I don't see it. Even if just one in ten billion planets can support life, you're talking about TENS OF BILLIONS of planets where life could possibly exist.



I'll play the odds on this one.

 

[winos5]

Alien life or not, I applaud him for publishing his findings and opening it up for PEER review.

 

[TSD]

Accurate or not, I'm in the camp that really doesn't need evidence that there is life outside of our planet to believe it. I mean seriously. What are the odds that our planet is the ONLY planet in the universe with life, given what we know about the size of the universe? Pretty fucking unbelievable. These type of beliefs are akin to people thinking the Earth is flat, the sun rotates around the Earth, not knowing of other continents and other civilizations, etc. Nobody will really know anything for certain until we start exploring space like we explored our planet. When the technology is there, someone will just need to get in a spaceship, pick a direction where we see a shitload of planets and galaxies, and just fly off until they find something. I mean, Astronomers estimate that there are something like 50 billion planets, just in the Milky Way alone... Then consider that there are something like 100 billion galaxies, just in the currently observable universe. The odds that our planet is the only one, out of the billions of billions of planets... I don't see it. Even if just one in ten billion planets can support life, you're talking about TENS OF BILLIONS of planets where life could possibly exist.



I'll play the odds on this one.

I completely agree with you, its highly unlikely that there isn't life elsewhere in the Universe. Its "possible" there isn't, but unlikely. That said, I would love to have evidence of it, to finally definitively say yes there is life on other celestial bodies. If this finding proves to be inaccurate, I believe when and if technology permits, the first alien life will be found on Jupiters moon Europa.

 

[MassHavoc]

I don't want to derail this thread, but how come people can believe that their is life in the universe (I actually believe there is life out there as well) without any hard factual evidence, yet rail on faith?

 

[Ymono37]

I completely agree with you, its highly unlikely that there isn't life elsewhere in the Universe. Its "possible" there isn't, but unlikely. That said, I would love to have evidence of it, to finally definitively say yes there is life on other celestial bodies. If this finding proves to be inaccurate, I believe when and if technology permits, the first alien life will be found on Jupiters moon Europa.

as long as it ain't those Chtulu looking ******* from "Monsters"

 

[TSD]

I don't want to derail this thread, but how come people can believe that their is life in the universe (I actually believe there is life out there as well) without any hard factual evidence, yet rail on faith?

Thats a fair question considering I am an atheist. I think it is likely there is life elsewhere in the universe because there is life here. I know life exists, therefore it is probable in the trillions of planets out there, another planet with life exists. On the same token i acknowledge that the possibility exists i am wrong.



This line of thinking does not equate with religious belief though, as the evidence is different. Life exists, and we have no evidence its creation was supernatural, therefore, logically then it was a natural process and if that natural process can occur here, it can occur elsewhere and based on the sheer number of planets it is likely there is also life somewhere else.



We arent even sure if the conditions for life must be the same as earth, therefore if life can appear under different conditions, that could drastically increase the odds of life on other planets.





What I said up there would be akin to say having proof Zues exists(Earth + life) -> therefore its likely the other Gods exist(life on other planets), its possible they don't, but likely.

 

[MassHavoc]

Thats a fair question considering I am an atheist. I think it is likely there is life elsewhere in the universe because there is life here. I know life exists, therefore it is probable in the trillions of planets out there, another planet with life exists. On the same token i acknowledge that the possibility exists i am wrong.



This line of thinking does not equate with religious belief though, as the evidence is different. Life exists, and we have no evidence its creation was supernatural, therefore, logically then it was a natural process and if that natural process can occur here, it can occur elsewhere and based on the sheer number of planets it is likely there is also life somewhere else.



We arent even sure if the conditions for life must be the same as earth, therefore if life can appear under different conditions, that could drastically increase the odds of life on other planets.





What I said up there would be akin to say having proof Zues exists(Earth + life) -> therefore its likely the other Gods exist(life on other planets), its possible they don't, but likely.

Interesting, I fully believe that their has to be life out there somewhere, whether more or less evolved than us or not. If indeed the universe is ever expanding or whatnot, then it's almost inconceivably arrogant for humans to think that we are the only thing living in the infinite time and space. So I truely believe that someday we will find it, but at the same time without any actual hard proof that life exists somewhere out there, I also have to believe that their is a very tiny chance that some once in a lifetime circumstance happen to create life on this planet and this planet alone. I just don't know if I can truly believe in that probability. I mean if just the right circumstance happened once to create life here, even if it was a Once in a billion^gazillion time, with infinite time and space to work with, I have to believe that no matter how limited the circumstance is, it would have to be repeated eternally through time, thus making the likelihood of life out there substantially great to me. Does that make sense?I basically agree with you that the mere existence of us is proof of other life out there to me.



I mostly wanted to throw it all out there to see what everyone thought.

 

[TSD]

Interesting, I fully believe that their has to be life out there somewhere, whether more or less evolved than us or not. If indeed the universe is ever expanding or whatnot, then it's almost inconceivably arrogant for humans to think that we are the only thing living in the infinite time and space. So I truely believe that someday we will find it, but at the same time without any actual hard proof that life exists somewhere out there, I also have to believe that their is a very tiny chance that some once in a lifetime circumstance happen to create life on this planet and this planet alone. I just don't know if I can truly believe in that probability. I mean if just the right circumstance happened once to create life here, even if it was a Once in a billion^gazillion time, with infinite time and space to work with, I have to believe that no matter how limited the circumstance is, it would have to be repeated eternally through time, thus making the likelihood of life out there substantially great to me. Does that make sense?I basically agree with you that the mere existence of us is proof of other life out there to me.



I mostly wanted to throw it all out there to see what everyone thought.

whether or not there are "sapient" space faring beings out there, who the hell knows. Until someone puts an alien corpse on display for people to see feel and touch, wierd lights in the sky and hearsay wont convince me.

 

[Pez68]

I don't want to derail this thread, but how come people can believe that their is life in the universe (I actually believe there is life out there as well) without any hard factual evidence, yet rail on faith?

Personally? The story of creation as stated in the bible just contradicts far too many scientific facts for it to be even remotely believable for me. We are all descendants of one man, and one woman? This man lived for 930 years? Then all their sons and daughters committed incest and multiplied to populate the planet? Yeah, ok. Way too many inconsistencies for me in the teachings of God, and what we know from science. SOOO many contradictions as well. Could there be a supreme being, life after death, heavens, etc.? Sure, I guess it's possible. Might have something to do with the universe and this topic too, for all we know. My main problem with religion, in general, is how inconceivable and ridiculous the stories are. You have to look at how many people have died in the name of religion over the years too. Would a God really allow so much death and suffering to take place in his name, and to be carried out as his "will"? I think not.

 

[MassHavoc]

Interesting, and I wasn't arguing any points one way or another really, just throwing stuff out for conversation. TSD, I half agree with you. In order for me to believe in Aliens in the sensationalized form that they have become to nutjobs and the media (also one in the same) I would have to see the body myself with proof that it came from where it came from, but at the same time I also refuse to believe that there isn't some sort of life form out there somewhere, for the reasons stated above. The most chilling thought I have is that if there is something else out there, and they are more advanced than us, why haven't we made any contact or anything resembling proof. I realize that it's a big fucking universe, but if we are the most advanced life for in it... I pity the rest of the universe.



And Pez, I get what you're saying. And I agree. I think mostly the reason I brought it up was because I find words interesting in that they can be applied to one thing unequivocally and yet when applied to something else they are thoroughly debatable. Been a good thread so far, don't want to derail it so we got any updates on the mission? I saw they have extended it to 13 days or something like that.

 

[supraman]

I don't want to derail this thread, but how come people can believe that their is life in the universe (I actually believe there is life out there as well) without any hard factual evidence, yet rail on faith?

It is a numbers game. However I am reading a book at the urging of my Catholic sister that argues against Dawkins and though I am not sold the numbers are REALLY big for say the odds of the necessary ingredients of DNA coming together randomly to produce viable DNA. Let me tell you that number has a LOT of zeros.

 

[supraman]

Interesting, and I wasn't arguing any points one way or another really, just throwing stuff out for conversation. TSD, I half agree with you. In order for me to believe in Aliens in the sensationalized form that they have become to nutjobs and the media (also one in the same) I would have to see the body myself with proof that it came from where it came from, but at the same time I also refuse to believe that there isn't some sort of life form out there somewhere, for the reasons stated above. The most chilling thought I have is that if there is something else out there, and they are more advanced than us, why haven't we made any contact or anything resembling proof. I realize that it's a big fucking universe, but if we are the most advanced life for in it... I pity the rest of the universe.



And Pez, I get what you're saying. And I agree. I think mostly the reason I brought it up was because I find words interesting in that they can be applied to one thing unequivocally and yet when applied to something else they are thoroughly debatable. Been a good thread so far, don't want to derail it so we got any updates on the mission? I saw they have extended it to 13 days or something like that.

Ya know it is kinda funny I have seen an Unidentified Flying Object. Now mind you I seen a UFO, but I'm smart enough to say that it was something the sky that was not natural it had 3 large square lights on it, it moved steadily through the sky, and being an airplane nerd at the time I could not readily identify what type of craft it was.

Do I think I seen an alien spaceship? The only way I can answer that is an alien spacecraft is the only explanation I can come up with given the evidence and knowledge I had.

 

[MassHavoc]

It is a numbers game. However I am reading a book at the urging of my Catholic sister that argues against Dawkins and though I am not sold the numbers are REALLY big for say the odds of the necessary ingredients of DNA coming together randomly to produce viable DNA. Let me tell you that number has a LOT of zeros.

And that is what I addressed. I don't care how many zero's are on the end of it. Yes in our experience of time that may seem like a lot, but with no actual knowledge of the existence of a start and an end of time, it could be a fraction of overall time. So what may only be able to happen under the proper circumstances once out of ever 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 ect years... relative to the eternity of time and space, that could happen every day or so. A lifespan of hours is relatively but a fraction of a millisecond in time relative to the universe. So to me, the fact that everything came together and happen once, under certain circumstances, is proof enough to me that it has been replicated before, or even since, or even will in the future. For all we know we were the first life forms (someone has to be right?) and the most advanced, with other new life being formed across the universe now daily. We just haven't found it and have no knowledge of what stage it could be at.

 

[Ymono37]

Personally - the thought of a sapient/sentient alien race stumbling across us is a little unnerving soley for the fact that if they do find us, they will have a mastery over physics that our race is only starting to comprehend.



If Europa is the closest thing IN OUR GALAXY, it's still not like we're even somewhat close to manned expeditions there - too far away (from my limited understanding).



While I'm open and even accepting to the fact that "life" must exist elsewhere in this universe, I feel like we're a long long way off from either finding it or it/them finding us.