By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept

Science, Space & Technology

Space Science Digital
Contact
Search
  • Home
  • Environment

    Watch DART asteroid impact in Hubble movie

    March 6, 2023

    Terminator zones and the search for life

    March 28, 2023

    Webb takes a “deep field” look at the Pandora Cluster, a vast galactic smash up

    April 15, 2023

    Webb finds water vapor near star with exoplanet

    May 7, 2023
  • Space Flight

    SpaceX launches Inmarsat I-6 F2 on 12th mission of 2023

    February 17, 2023

    China reveals lunar lander, launches satellites, and conducts a spacewalk

    March 10, 2023

    Spacesuit prototype revealed for Artemis 3 Moon landing

    March 15, 2023

    Psyche and JUICE: Spacecraft are heading to a metal asteroid and Jupiter’s moons in 2023

    December 28, 2022
  • Cosmology

    Giant young galaxies shake up our understanding of the early universe

    February 23, 2023

    Rising star in astronomy: Wen-Fai Fong

    February 6, 2023

    Astronomy magazine seeks Associate Editor and Staff Writer

    March 14, 2023

    Next-gen Event Horizon Telescope aims to get videos of black holes

    March 20, 2023
  • Latest
  • About Us
Reading: Space dust could carry alien life across the galaxy
Share
Aa
Space Science DigitalSpace Science Digital
  • Environment
  • Space Flight
  • Cosmology
  • Technology
Search
  • Home
  • Categories
    • Environment
    • Technology
    • Cosmology
    • Space Flight
  • More Foxiz
    • Blog Index
    • Forums
    • Complaint
    • Sitemap
Follow US
© 2023 Space Science Digital. All Rights Reserved.
Space Science Digital > Blog > News > Space dust could carry alien life across the galaxy
News

Space dust could carry alien life across the galaxy

By Jayden Hanson March 23, 2023 5 Min Read
Share


Astrobiologists should examine space dust and other exoplanetary debris to search for the existence of life beyond Earth, a new study suggests.

Up to 100,000 pieces of life-carrying dust particles could be making their way to Earth every year, according to the study, which was authored by Tomonori Totani, an astronomy professor at the University of Tokyo. 

When a big asteroid slams into a planet, the impact can have cosmic repercussions — just ask the dinosaurs. (Or don’t; they’re extinct, killed off by a space rock that hit Earth 66 million years ago.) These cataclysmic collisions can create hemisphere-size craters and spread debris across entire planets and out into interstellar space. 

Related: The search for alien life (reference)

This piece of interplanetary dust is thought to be part of the early solar system and was found in Earth’s atmosphere, demonstrating lightweight particles could survive atmospheric entry as they do not generate much heat from friction. (Image credit: NASA)

In the new paper (opens in new tab), which was published online Wednesday (March 22) in the International Journal of Astrobiology, Totani argues that the debris ejected into space from a large enough impact on a life-inhabited planet could carry evidence of that life out into space with it.

Theoretically, fossilized microorganisms or other indications of life could be preserved on planetary ejecta as they careen away from their home planet, pending their survival through the harsh environment of outer space. Some of these debris particles could find their way to the surfaces of other life-sustaining planets, like Earth, where they could potentially establish a foothold — or, perhaps, be studied for evidence of alien life. 

This idea is similar in some respects to the panspermia hypothesis, which presumes life is ubiquitous and is proliferated throughout the galaxy from one planetary body to another. Totani cites this near the beginning of his paper, alongside the observation that Mars meteorites have been found here on Earth. “My paper explores this idea using available data on the different aspects of this scenario,” Totani said in a press release (opens in new tab). 

Not all debris from an exoplanet can be ejected with enough velocity that it not only escapes the gravity of its planet but also that planet’s host star; rather, escapees must be tiny. Totani calculates that fragments around one micrometer (one one-thousandth of a millimeter) wide would be big enough to host something like a single-celled organism, and small enough to reach interstellar speeds. 

“The distances and times involved can be vast, and both reduce the chance any ejecta containing life signs from another world could even reach us,” Totani said. “Add to that the number of phenomena in space that can destroy small objects due to heat or radiation, and the chances get even lower.” 

Despite the odds, however, Totani’s calculations show that up to 100,000 such pieces of space dust might possibly land on Earth each year, and may be present and well-preserved within Antarctic ice or on the seafloor. 

Those specimens may be relatively easy to recover, compared to space dust with evidence of microbial life still floating around in space. But that latter scenario isn’t impossible either. 

“Discerning extrasolar material from material originating in our own solar system is still a complex matter,” the press release states, but also points out that aerogel technologies that capture space dust exist today. 

Both the paper and the press release conclude with Totani urging scientists in adjacent fields to pick up this research and explore the possibilities it may add to the search for life outside our solar system. 

Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) and on Facebook (opens in new tab). 



TAGGED: alien, carry, dust, galaxy, life, space

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
[mc4wp_form]
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Jayden Hanson March 23, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

[mc4wp_form]

HOT NEWS

SpaceX launches Inmarsat I-6 F2 on 12th mission of 2023

Space Flight
February 17, 2023

Is that this black gap jet making stars explode?

Again to Article Listing Greater than twice the anticipated quantity of novae have been discovered…

October 27, 2024

NASA Says Spacecraft Crash Test Successfully Changes Asteroid’s Orbit

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A spacecraft that plowed into a small, harmless asteroid millions…

October 11, 2022

World-Saving Spacecraft Passes Test

NASA says its DART spacecraft successfully shifted the path of an asteroid. For us earthlings,…

October 11, 2022

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Proposed CASTOR Area Telescope Waits on Authorities

The proposed Canadian led Cosmological Superior Survey Telescope for Optical and uv Analysis, generally referred to by its acronym CASTOR,…

News
October 27, 2024

Dwelling (Alone) on Mars: Actor Daniel Stern on main NASA in ‘For All Mankind’

If there's certainly a multiverse the place in each attainable end result occurs, then in a type of universes Marv…

News
December 23, 2023

China Spacewalk: Photo voltaic Panel Restore Check

Picture credit score: China Nationwide Area Administration (CNSA)/China Central Tv (CCTV) The primary extravehicular exercise of the Shenzhou-17 mission was…

News
December 23, 2023

Watch large loop of plasma dance above the solar in gorgeous video

Miguel Claro is an expert photographer, writer and science communicator primarily based in Lisbon, Portugal, who creates spectacular pictures of…

News
December 23, 2023
We use our own and third-party cookies to improve our services, personalise your advertising and remember your preferences.
  • Jobs Board
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Exclusives
  • Learn How
  • Support
  • Solutions
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Editorial Policy
  • Marketing Solutions
  • Industry Intelligence

Follow US: 

Space Science Digital

Welcome to spacescience.digital, A source for the latest news and developments in the exciting field of space science. Our blog covers a wide range of topics, from the latest space missions and discoveries to updates on technology and scientific breakthroughs. We are passionate about sharing the wonders of the universe with our readers and providing them with engaging and informative content. Join us on this fascinating journey as we explore the mysteries of space and the frontiers of human knowledge.

© 2024 Space Science Digital. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?