Alien life could ‘hitchhike’ between planets – after microbes survived on ISS for 3 years

MICROSCOPIC life can survive in the cold, darkness of space for at least three years, according to scientists studying bacterial colonies outside of the International Space Station. The discovery by Japanese experts suggests that alien microbes may hop between planets by piggybacking on asteroids or space debris. It was the work of scientists behind the Tanpopo experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The project exposes clumps of microbes to the harsh environment of space to test whether they can survive. Scientists aim to test the controversial idea organisms migrate between planets, moons and star systems, a theory called “panspermia”. Researchers have previously suggested that life arrived on Earth billions of years ago after it crash landed onto our planet from space.It’s thought that at least a handful of undiscovered worlds across the Universe became home to extraterrestrials by a similar process. Dr Akihiko Yamagishi, principal investigator of Tanpopo, said: “The origin of life on Earth is the biggest mystery of human beings. “Scientists can have totally different points of view on the matter. Some think life is very rare and happened only once in the universe, while others think life can happen on every suitable planet. “If panspermia is… Read full this story

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