Question

Interview question to dr jayant naralikar

Answer 1

How has the international scientific community reacted to your discovery thus far?

We have encountered interest + curiosity + certain degree of scepticism. This is natural when something contrary to long-held beliefs is claimed.

Are you willing to collaborate with the international astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology community?

It would indeed be desirable to have more experiments of this kind carried out. The present one already involves two universities in the UK collaborating with us.

What kinds of life forms were found in your experiments?

The evidence for living matter came in two forms: First cationic dyes applied to the sample on filters indicated the existence of living (viable) cells.

The second evidence was from growths observed from using potato dextrose agar as medium and the microorganism could be identified as staphylococcus pasteuri.

Rod-like bacillus and fungus (engyodontium albus de Hoog) were also found.

The first evidence came from the molecular biology labs of David Lloyd in Cardiff (UK) and the second from the labs in Sheffield (UK) by Milton Wainwright.

Why do you think this evidence can withstand the scrutiny of today's science?

For reasons given, and the precautions against contamination that were observed make us confident that the evidence should stand.

How can you rule out contamination from Earth? How is your cryosampling (the method used to collect the bacteria) different from methods used before? Could you elaborate with a few details?

The Indian Space Research Organisation had developed the cryosampler for earlier experiments in atmospheric sampling and had used it successfully. The cryosampler has evacuated and decontaminated stainless steel tubes that can be opened and closed by 'telecommand'. Then there is a cryopump that fills the tube with air at liquid neon temperature. This system is superior to any that has been used in earlier experiments.

What is your guess about the origin of the life forms you found? Did they come from meteorites and other such bodies? Do you suppose they can be traced back to the Oort Cloud (a belt of celestial rocks circling the far outer boundary of the our Solar System)?

It is too early to guess. At this stage we would like to say that a prima facie case can be made for it to have come from above rather than below... The density profile with height seems to match this hypothesis. It would be necessary to do further experiments to link the findings to specific sources like comets and meteor showers.

What are the physical conditions that must have led to the development of these life forms?

It is too early to say anything on this issue till we know the source.