It is fascinating to think that each of the atoms in our body, our loved ones, even our pet, could have come from the depths of outer space, and that each part of who we are is probably billions of years old. antiquity.
But even more fascinating is the thought that we ourselves are spreading the seed of life through space dust.
The exchange of atmospheric particles between distant planets could be the origin of life on Earth, and responsible for seeding terrestrial life in the universe, as suggested by research carried out by the University of Edinburgh.
Space dust, a means of transportation for life
The rapid flows of interplanetary dust that continually bombard our planet’s atmosphere could release tiny organisms from distant worlds or send terrestrial organisms to other planets.
As detailed in the scientific publication, the dust streams could collide with biological particles in Earth’s atmosphere with enough energy to launch them into space.
Such an event could allow bacteria and other life forms to make their way from one planet in the Solar System to another and, perhaps, beyond.
The finding suggests that large asteroid impacts may not be the only mechanism by which life could transfer between planets , as previously thought.
The University of Edinburgh research calculated how strongly space dust flows – which can move at speeds of up to 70 km per second – could collide with particles in our atmospheric system.
It found that small particles that exist more than 150 kilometers above the Earth’s surface could be hit past the limit of Earth’s gravity by space dust and eventually reach other planets.
According to this, it is possible that we are spreading the seed of life to other planets.
The same mechanism could allow the exchange of atmospheric particles between distant planets.
Can life endure this cosmic journey?
Some bacteria, plants and small animals called tardigrades are known to survive in space , so it is possible for such organisms, if present in Earth’s upper atmosphere, to collide with rapidly moving space dust and sustain a journey. to another planet.
“The proposition that space dust collisions could propel organisms enormous distances between planets raises some interesting insights into how the life and atmospheres of planets originated. Fast space dust transmission is found in all planetary systems and could be a common factor in the proliferation of life “, in the words of Professor Arjun Berera, lead author of the study.
The study, published in the prestigious journal Astrobiology , was funded in part by the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
