STUDY CONFIRMS ENTRY OF EXTRA TERRESTRIAL MICRO-ORGANISMS IN ATMOSPHERE

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A study conducted by a joint Indo-British team of scientists has confirmed the presence of extra-terrestrial microorganisms, entering via earth’s atmosphere. The team employing the Indian Space Research Organisation’s cryogenic sampler balloon payload, to test the presence of these microorganisms found them in the earth’s stratosphere at a height of 41 km. The samples collected have been extensively analysed by scientists both India and the United Kingdom.

The results, interalia suggestive of the presence and entry of extra-terrestrial microorganisms into the earth’s atmosphere, were presented at several international symposia, conferences in the United States, Europe as well as in India. The experiment and the results were well received. After exhaustive international scientific scrutiny, a paper containing the path-breaking findings have been accepted by the journal "Microbiology letters" of the Federation of European Microbiology Societies. Further study of these microorganisms are underway.

Meanwhile, preliminary results of the Indian Ocean experiment, has indicated the presence of a brownish haze extending from the ocean surface to one to three km altitude. The haze consisted of a combination of water droplets and minute particles. A major finding of the experiment revealed that majority of the minute particles, nearly 75 percent of the haze, was of anthropogenic activities like burning fossil fuels and emission from vehicles etc. About 200 scientists who took part in the experiment representing India, Europe and the USA, felt that the haze was a temporary phenomena and occurs only in winter i.e January to March. The haze is not restricted to Asia alone.