Controversy about life on comet 67P

The researchers believe that the comet surface characteristics of 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko are suitable for the presence of microbial life, but some other scientists say it has not been tested experimentally.

Life on comet 67P?

UPI reported yesterday, in the recent meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society, Max Wallis of Cardiff University, England and Chandra Wickramasinghe, director of the Center for Astrobiology, said that the solid surface of Comet 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko is a mixture of ice and organic materials. They unite under the sun's heat, as comets move around their orbit. This is an environmental condition conducive to microbial life activities .

Comet surface 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko.(Photo: ESA)

Through the image provided by the European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosetta probe , the comet surface 67P / Churyumov-Gerasimenko is an icy black crust, flat bottom craters and many large rocks.

According to the researchers , microorganisms are able to survive at relatively low temperatures by using salt as an anti-freezing chemical. These creatures became active at the time comets approached the Sun. Bacteria need water to live on comets. This condition is also met because comets possess a layer of snow and ice in a state that is constantly sublimated, creating a habitat for microorganisms.

" The Rosetta probe not only observes comets as a frozen body does not work. Comets support microbial life more than the Arctic and Antarctic on Earth. If there is any activity Biology on comets, we hope to detect it , "Wallis said.

According to Guardian, life is quite "picky " with the chemicals it uses. If life exists on comets, it will increase some important identifiable molecules. However, the Rosae probe of the Rosetta spacecraft is incapable of conducting analysis to determine life. Therefore, the theory of scientists cannot be verified experimentally.

In 2001, Wickramasinghe claimed to have discovered extraterrestrial microorganisms in the stratospheric dust, at a height of 41 km. He also said that molecules that are the premise for life. On Earth originated from comets.