Indian Scientist Finds Space Bacteria
New Delhi - Indian researchers believe
they have discovered traces of extraterrestrial life in the shape of
microbes in samples they collected outside the Earth's sphere, the Press
Trust of India reported on Monday.
Jayant Narlikar from the Indian Space Research Organisation announced
during a lecture on The Search For Extraterrestrial Life in Nagpur,
Maharashtra, that they had made the discovery a few weeks ago, but were
double-checking their findings.
"Micro-organisms resembling coccus, fungal and rod-like bacillus were
discovered in samples collected 41km above the earth's surface," said
Narlikar.
"Biologists are now trying to verify the origin of the micro-organisms.
Whatever may be the source of life, if biologists confirm the results, it
will prove that extraterrestrial life does exist," he added.
Narlikar said the Indian scientists had used a sophisticated gadget called
a cryosampler to conduct the experiment for life in space.
"This is only the second experiment of its kind in the world. The United
States had conducted a similar study where some evidences of life were
found. It will open a new line of challenge for the global scientific
community," said Narlikar.
Narlikar observed that their sample could contain "microbial life coming
from debris of comets and other celestial objects".