Biological entities isolated from the stratosphere (22-27km): case for their space origin

Milton Wainwright; Christopher E. Rose; Alexander J. Baker; N. Chandra Wickramasinghe

doi:10.1117/12.2047304

26 September 2013 Biological entities isolated from the stratosphere (22-27km): case for their space origin

Milton Wainwright, Christopher E. Rose, Alexander J. Baker, N. Chandra Wickramasinghe

Proceedings Volume 8865, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XVI; 88650L (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2047304
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2013, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Biological entities were isolated at a height of between 22-27 km in the stratosphere. Sampling of this region was carried out in the UK in July 2013 using a relatively simple low-cost balloon-borne sampler carrying aseptically clean scanning electron microscope stubs onto which aerosols were directly captured. The entities varied from a presumptive colony of ultra-small bacteria to two unusual individual organisms - part of a diatom frustule and a 200 micron-sized particle mass interlaced with biological filaments. Biological entities of this nature have not previously been reported occurring in the stratosphere; their likely origin is discussed and we provide arguments to support our view that such biological entities may have arrived from space. The new data gives strong confirmation of the Hoyle-Wickramasinghe theory of cometary panspermia.

Citation Download Citation

Milton Wainwright, Christopher E. Rose, Alexander J. Baker, and N. Chandra Wickramasinghe "Biological entities isolated from the stratosphere (22-27km): case for their space origin", Proc. SPIE 8865, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XVI, 88650L (26 September 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2047304

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