At a Glance
- Researchers at Imperial College London discovered that terrestrial microorganisms rapidly colonized a sample from asteroid Ryugu, raising questions about panspermia and interplanetary life transfer.
- Despite strict contamination controls, organic filaments resembling Earth-based microbes were found on the sample, suggesting microbial growth and reproduction after the sample’s return.
- The findings indicate that the microbes were introduced during sample preparation on Earth and did not originate from Ryugu, underscoring challenges in maintaining extraterrestrial sample integrity.
- The study emphasizes the need for even stricter contamination protocols in future space missions to protect the authenticity of returned extraterrestrial materials.
- These findings support the panspermia hypothesis, demonstrating how organic material from space could sustain Earth-based microorganisms while highlighting the complexities of distinguishing extraterrestrial life from terrestrial contamination.
A recent study has uncovered an interesting finding in the ongoing debate about extraterrestrial life. Researchers at Imperial College London discovered that a space sample returned from asteroid Ryugu, collected by the JAXA Hayabusa 2 mission, was rapidly colonized by terrestrial microorganisms. This discovery has raised questions about the possibility of life being transferred between planets—a concept known as panspermia. The study, published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science, highlights how life from Earth can quickly colonize extraterrestrial material even under strict contamination control measures.
The sample analyzed in the study, A0180, was a tiny particle collected from asteroid 162173 Ryugu. The sample was carefully handled in a nitrogen-filled clean room after being returned to Earth in a sealed chamber to prevent contamination. Despite these precautions, the scientists found organic filaments on the sample’s surface, which resembled microorganisms commonly found on Earth. The filaments’ size and shape matched those of known microbes, and their abundance changed over time, suggesting they were living organisms that grew and reproduced.
This study proves that even with the best efforts to prevent contamination, Earth microbes can still invade extraterrestrial samples. The findings suggest that the microorganisms did not come from Ryugu but were introduced during the preparation of the sample, which was handled in a controlled environment on Earth. The researchers emphasize the need for even stricter contamination controls in future missions that bring samples back from space to ensure the integrity of these precious extraterrestrial materials.
While this discovery complicates studying extraterrestrial life, it reinforces the panspermia hypothesis. The results show that organic material from space could provide the necessary energy for Earth-based microorganisms to survive and grow. However, the study also reminds us of the challenges of isolating extraterrestrial life from the ever-present microbes of Earth, which continue to find a way into even the most controlled environments.
References
- Genge, M. J., Almeida, N., Van Ginneken, M., Pinault, L., Preston, L. J., Wozniakiewicz, P. J., & Yano, H. (2024). Rapid colonization of a space‐returned Ryugu sample by terrestrial microorganisms. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, maps.14288. https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.14288
- Jackson, J. & Phys.org. (2024, November 22). Ryugu asteroid sample rapidly colonized by terrestrial life despite strict contamination control. Phys.Org; Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-ryugu-asteroid-sample-rapidly-colonized.html
