Scientists Find 'Unequivocal' Evidence of Alien Life on Comet

Monica Sanchez | July 6, 2015
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Two lead astronomers have identified “unequivocal” evidence of alien life on a comet, reports Sky News UK.

The scientists say that the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet carrying the European Space Agency’s Rosetta Philae landing probe through space has certain telling features, such as its organic-rich black crust, which point to the presence of living organisms.

Astronomer and astrobiologist Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe, who was involved in planning for the mission, explains: 

"What we're saying is that data coming from the comet seems to unequivocally, in my opinion, point to micro-organisms being involved in the formation of the icy structures, the preponderance of aromatic hydrocarbons, and the very dark surface,” he said.

"These are not easily explained in terms of pre-biotic chemistry. The dark material is being constantly replenished as it is boiled off by heat from the Sun. Something must be doing that at a fairly prolific rate."

Sky News UK adds, “Computer simulations have suggested microbes could inhabit the comet's watery regions."

"It has a black hydrocarbon crust overlaying ice, smooth icy ‘seas’, and flat-bottomed craters containing ‘lakes’ of re-frozen water overlain with organic debris.”

Unfortunately, neither the aircraft nor the Philae probe are equipped to search for direct evidence.

"I wanted to include a very inexpensive life-detection experiment,” professor Wickramasinghe said, thinking back to when the mission was first launched 15 years ago.  “At the time it was thought this was a bizarre proposition.”

Whether the European Space Agency will be sending out a new aircraft with equipment to better inspect the comet for definitive evidence has yet to be announced. 

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