Couldn't this simply be from an astronaut sneezing on a glove prior to a spacewalk, then grabbing a handrail? We already know about water bears that can survive in space, so why not bacteria.
Bacteria on the outside of the International Space Station
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Re: Bacteria on the outside of the International Space Station
#12Sounds slightly surprising, but the exterior of the ISS is not a sterile environment. There are thousands of ways terrestrial bacteria could have ended up there. I guess the interesting thing is that the bacteria seem to be able to survive the extreme environment. But that's hardly a new discovery about bacteria.
Maybe it's a matter of time? I mean, there's quite a bit of UV from the Sun baking that surface every day. Perhaps those bacteria would eventually die if they are not being replenished from somewhere.
Re: Bacteria on the outside of the International Space Station
#13What if it is extraterrestrial in origin but also exists on earth (originally coming from elsewhere)? How would they know the difference then?
Re: Bacteria on the outside of the International Space Station
#14Sounds slightly surprising, but the exterior of the ISS is not a sterile environment. There are thousands of ways terrestrial bacteria could have ended up there. I guess the interesting thing is that the bacteria seem to be able to survive the extreme environment. But that's hardly a new discovery about bacteria.
Maybe it's a matter of time? I mean, there's quite a bit of UV from the Sun baking that surface every day. Perhaps those bacteria would eventually die if they are not being replenished from somewhere.
Here are some rough calculations on the matter: https://what-if.xkcd.com/117/
Re: Bacteria on the outside of the International Space Station
#15The Independent was a great newspaper, but it collapsed some years ago and the website is just baloney.
Re: Bacteria on the outside of the International Space Station
#16I can't help but keep wondering if "life originated on Earth" might not be the last geocentrism. It's only speculation at this point but it's one I've harbored for many years. Part of this is because of how common we've found organic materials to be in the universe, and part of it comes from how poorly other geocentric ideas have fared.
There are plausible theories about how life arose on Earth.
If you want to assume it came from somewhere else, you either have to invoke some kind of magic, or assume it happened somewhat along the lines that it would have done on Earth, then arrived somehow. It just kicks the can down the road without solving anything, IMO.
Re: Bacteria on the outside of the International Space Station
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sure, but we aren't holding to this form of biological geocentrism for no reason. We've never seen any definite proof of life on any other planets. Given that science is an evidence-based methodology, it makes sense that we would assume Earth-based life is the only model of life until proven otherwise.
if we wanted to be perfect logicians we would assume neither but believe the geocentric case to be a likely possibility.
If we want to be perfect logicians, then there is no reality or absolute truth in anything, but that's just a bit pedantic IMO ;) Conclusions at some point need to be made to progress.
Re: Bacteria on the outside of the International Space Station
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sure, but we aren't holding to this form of biological geocentrism for no reason. We've never seen any definite proof of life on any other planets. Given that science is an evidence-based methodology, it makes sense that we would assume Earth-based life is the only model of life until proven otherwise.
if we wanted to be perfect logicians we would assume neither but believe the geocentric case to be a likely possibility.
Wanting to be perfect logicians is an oxymoron, as there is no perfectly logical reason to want to be one!
Re: Bacteria on the outside of the International Space Station
#19Guys, come on, this is The Independent...
Re: Bacteria on the outside of the International Space Station
#20The suggestion that the bacteria is extraterrestrial in origin is absolutely ridiculous. Much, much, much more research is necessary before such a claim can be made. The speculation on Shkaplerov's part is hugely unprofessional.
Shkaplerov appears to be a very accomplished pilot - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Shkaplerov. It's not clear why anyone would pay attention to his claims about exobiology. The journalism is unprofessional, too, although that's not news.