This could turn out to be a historic moment if true:
mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/nasa-discovered-life-mars-space-6520628
Can't recall if the mirror is a tabloid or an actual source of news. Then again, most news agencies are tabloids, the difference is only the degree to which each one is so.
Anyway, I say combine the panspermia theory with Hawking's recent admission about black holes as being possible portals - "warp zones" for Mario fans - into other universes (already a longstanding conjecture even in sci-fi, as seen in e.g. the spiderwoman cartoons from the 1970s), and you get the possibility of life in multiple universes that can support it.
Actual scientists have come up with crazier theories than the Universal Panspermia theory I just stated (and possibly scientists have considered that one already too).
Great news about the possibility of bacterial cousins on Mars. Are they related and an ancestor to ancient bacterial life strains on earth, or are they cousins (both are possibilities with panspermia) or will they be "completely unrelated" and the product of localised natural chemical processes on Mars, regardless of if they appeared later or earlier than earth? Either way it won't necessarily disprove the panspermia theory as regards life on earth.
mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/nasa-discovered-life-mars-space-6520628
Quote:Has NASA discovered life on Mars? Space agency calls urgent briefing to announce major discovery about Red Planet
Updated 18:00, 26 Sep 2015
By Chris Richards
NASA is preparing to unveil a "major science finding" on Monday that has raised speculation we are closer to discovering LIFE ON MARS
Life on Mars? NASA is to announce that is has solved a major mystery about the Red Planet
Speculation is mounting among space watchers that Nasa is about to announce it has found life on Mars.
The US space agency is to host an urgent press conference at its Washington headquarters where it will announce that is has solved a major mystery about the Red Planet.
NASA has used previous briefings to announce ground-breaking discoveries - such as in July when it revealed the existence of the Earth-life planet Kepler-452b, outside our solar system.
Read more: 'Mars Henge'? Is mysterious stone circle found on Red Planet clearest indication yet of alien civilisation?
Jim Green, Nasa's director of planetary science and Michael Meyer, lead scientist for the Mars Exploration Program, will be among the experts present at Monday's event.
It is believed the agency could announce that it has discovered microbial life on Earth's near neighbour or alternatively that it has found evidence of flowing water.
The latter theory is due in part to the fact that Lujendra Ojha, of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, will also be present at next week's press conference.
Scientist Mr Ohja first came up with the theory that Mars has liquid salt water flowing through it during its warmer months.
Until earlier this year, boffins thought there was ice on Mars but that it was too cold to host water.
However, in April NASA's four-wheel drive Curiosity Rover discovered that the soil was damp with liquid brine, which lowers the freezing point.
And last month the vehicle - which has been based on the Red Planet for the past three years - identified rocks a metre under the surface which contained up to four times as much water as previously thought .
A brief statement on the space agency's website read: "NASA will detail a major science finding from the agency's ongoing exploration of Mars during a news briefing at 11:30 a.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 28 at the James Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
"The event will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency's website."
Can't recall if the mirror is a tabloid or an actual source of news. Then again, most news agencies are tabloids, the difference is only the degree to which each one is so.
Anyway, I say combine the panspermia theory with Hawking's recent admission about black holes as being possible portals - "warp zones" for Mario fans - into other universes (already a longstanding conjecture even in sci-fi, as seen in e.g. the spiderwoman cartoons from the 1970s), and you get the possibility of life in multiple universes that can support it.
Actual scientists have come up with crazier theories than the Universal Panspermia theory I just stated (and possibly scientists have considered that one already too).
Great news about the possibility of bacterial cousins on Mars. Are they related and an ancestor to ancient bacterial life strains on earth, or are they cousins (both are possibilities with panspermia) or will they be "completely unrelated" and the product of localised natural chemical processes on Mars, regardless of if they appeared later or earlier than earth? Either way it won't necessarily disprove the panspermia theory as regards life on earth.