Planet Formation and Panspermia New Prospects for the Movement of Life Through Space

An in-depth view of the panspermia hypothesis examined against the latest knowledge of planetary formation and related processes.

Panspermia is the concept that life can be passively transported through space on various bodies and seed, habitable planets and moons, which we are beginning to learn may exist in large numbers. It is an old idea, but not popular with those who prefer that life on Earth started on Earth, an alternative, also unproven hypothesis. This book updates the concept of panspermia in the light of new evidence on planet formation, molecular clouds, solar system motions, supernovae ejection mechanisms, etc. Thus, it is to be a book about newly understood prospects for the movement of life through space.

The novel approach presented in this book gives new insights into the panspermia theory and its connection with planetary formation and the evolution of galaxies. This offers a good starting point for future research proposals about exolife and a better perspective for empirical scrutiny of panspermia theory. Also, the key to understanding life in the universe is to understand that the planetary formation process is convolved with the evolution of stellar systems in their galactic environment. The book provides the synthesis of all these elements and gives the readers an up-to-date insight on how panspermia might fit into the big picture.

Audience
Given the intrinsic interdisciplinary nature of the panspermia hypothesis the book will have a wide audience across various scientific disciplines covering astronomy, biology, physics and chemistry. Apart from scientists, the book will appeal to engineers who are involved in planning and realization of future space missions.

Branislav Vukotić. Obtained his MSc. & Ph.D. from the University of Belgrade. He researches the astrobiological history of the Milky Way using probabilistic cellular automata and N-body simulations. He is the member of the Editorial Board of the Publications of the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade and a vice-chair of the Management Board of the Astronomical Observatory in Belgrade.

Richard Gordon. Theoretical biologist with B.Sc. in Mathematics from the University of Chicago and PhD in Chemical Physics from the University of Oregon, retired from the Department of Radiology, University of Manitoba in 2011. He is presently at the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab & Aquarium, Panacea, Florida and Adjunct Professor, C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth & Development, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit Michigan. His interest in exobiology (now astrobiology) dates from 1960s undergraduate work on organic matter in the Orgueil meteorite with Edward Anders. He has published critical reviews of panspermia and the history of claims of life in meteorites.

Joseph Seckbach. Received his MSc. & Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and did a postdoctorate in Caltech, Pasadena, California. He led a group researching exobiology (extraterrestrial life, now called astrobiology) at UCLA and spent postdoctoral periods at UCLA, Tubingen, Munich and Harvard University. He served at Louisiana State University (LSU), Baton Rouge, LA, USA, as the first selected Chair for the Louisiana Sea Grant and Technology transfer. Professor Joseph Seckbach has edited over 35 books for major science publishers.

Preface xi

Part I: Philosophical Aspects of Panspermia 1

1 “On the Origin of Life” 3
By Lord Kelvin (William Thomson)

2 Why We Should Take Interstellar Panspermia Seriously 7
Amedeo Balbi

2.1 Introduction 7

2.2 The Case for Interstellar Panspermia 8

2.3 Theoretical Consequences of Interstellar Panspermia 11

2.4 Conclusions 14

References 15

3 The Extended Continuity Thesis, Chronocentrism, and Directed Panspermia 19
Milan M. Ćirković

3.1 Introduction: The Continuity as a Pre-Requisite for Scientific Grounding of Astrobiology 20

3.2 Versions and Resistance 22

3.3 Cultural Evolution and Directed Panspermia 26

3.4 Conclusion and Prospects 34

Acknowledgements 36

References 37

4 Life in the Milky Way: The Panspermia Prospects 41
Branislav Vukotić and Richard Gordon

4.1 Introduction 41

4.2 Three Levels of Habitability and Panspermia 43

4.2.1 Stellar System Level 43

4.2.2 Galaxies: Cosmic Cradles of Life 45

4.2.3 Cosmological Level: Interactions of Galaxies 47

4.3 Conclusions 48

Acknowledgements 49

References 49

Part II: Microorganisms and Panspermia 53

5 Planetary Protection: Too Late 55
Margarita Safonova and C. Sivaram

5.1 Introduction 56

5.2 What is Planetary Protection 56

5.3 Extent of Earth Biosphere 60

5.4 Extension to Other Planetary Bodies 62

5.4.1 Moon 62

5.4.2 Mars 64

5.4.3 Icy Moons 66

5.5 Backward Contamination 66

5.6 Interplanetary Exchange 68

5.7 Habitable Conditions for Interplanetary Micronauts 71

5.8 Conclusion 74

Appendix A 77

Appendix B 78

Appendix C 78

Acknowledgments 81

References 82

6 Microbial Survival and Adaptation in Extreme Terrestrial Environments—The Case of the Dallol Geothermal Area in Ethiopia 93
Cavalazzi Barbara and Filippidou Sevasti

6.1 Introduction 94

6.2 Planetary Field Analog: The Case of the Dallol Geothermal Area 95

6.2.1 The Dallol Hot Springs 99

6.2.2 Dallol Geothermal Area Planetary Field Analogs 104

6.3 Life in Extreme Environments 105

6.4 Conclusion and Remarks on Panspermia 110

Acknowledgment 111

References 111

7 Escape From Planet Earth: From Directed Panspermia to Terraformation 119
Roy D. Sleator and Niall Smith

Acknowledgements 123

References 123

Part III: Formation and Evolution of Planets: Material Exchange Prospects 125

8 Catalyzed Lithopanspermia Through Disk Capture of Biologically Active Interstellar Material 127
Evgeni Grishin and Hagai B. Perets

8.1 Introduction 128

8.2 Capture of Interstellar Planetesimals 129

8.2.1 Planetesimal Size Distribution 129

8.2.2 Encounter Rates 130

8.2.3 Capture Condition 131

8.2.4 Capture Probability 133

8.2.5 Total Number of Captured Planetesimals 135

8.3 Catalyzed Lithopanspermia 137

8.3.1 Types of Panspermia 138

8.3.2 Fraction of Life-Bearing Rocks 139

8.3.3 Delivery Rates 140

8.4 Conclusion and Discussion 142

Acknowledgements 143

References 144

9 Lithopanspermia at the Center of Spiral Galaxies 149
Howard Chen

9.1 Introduction 150

9.2 The Kepler Transit Survey and the Distribution of Living Worlds 152

9.3 XUV Hydrodynamic Escape and the Formation of Habitable Evaporated Cores 153

9.3.1 Activity of Supermassive Black Holes 154

9.3.2 Overabundance of HECs Driven by Quasar Illumination 155

9.4 Frequency of Exchange in High Stellar Densities 157

9.4.1 Ejection of Planetary Bodies on Intragalactic Scales 158

9.4.2 Implications for Other Stellar Populations 160

9.5 Detecting Panspermia 162

9.6 Concluding Remarks 163

References 164

10 Wet Panspermia 171
Jaroslav Jiřik and Richard Gordon

10.1 Introduction 172

10.2 Earth and Its Isotopic World: Geological and Environmental Implications 172

10.3 Quest for the Primordial Water Worlds 173

10.4 Looking for the Biotic Traces in Extraterrestrial Material 176

10.5 Ices of the Moon and Proposal of Earth-Induced Wet Panspermia in the Solar System 178

10.6 Implications for Other Planets of the Inner Solar System? 182

10.7 Conclusions 185

References 186

11 There Were Plenty of Day/Night Cycles That Could Have Accelerated an Origin of Life on Earth, Without Requiring Panspermia 195
Richard Gordon and George Mikhailovsky

Acknowledgement 202

References 202

12 Micrometeoroids as Carriers of Organics: Modeling of the Atmospheric Entry and Chemical Decomposition of Sub-Millimeter Grains 207
G. Micca Longo and S. Longo

12.1 Micrometeorites and the Search for Life 208

12.2 White Soft Minerals 210

12.2.1 Carbonates in Space 211

12.2.2 Sulfates in Space 213

12.3 Atmospheric Entry Model 214

12.4 Results 219

12.4.1 Atmospheric Entry of MgCO3 Micrometeoroids 220

12.4.2 Atmospheric Entry of CaCO3 Micrometeoroids 223

12.4.3 Atmospheric Entry of FeCO3 Micrometeoroids 226

12.4.4 Atmospheric Entry of CaSO4 Micrometeoroids 229

12.5 The Role of Primordial Atmospheres 230

12.5.1 Isothermal Atmosphere Model 233

12.5.2 Hydrogen Atmosphere 237

12.5.3 Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere 239

12.5.4 Methane Atmosphere 239

12.6 Conclusions 241

References 243

13 Dynamical Evolution of Planetary Systems: Role of Planetesimals 251
Vladimir Došović

13.1 Introduction 251

13.2 Planetesimal Formation and Evolution 253

13.3 Transporting Mechanism in Later Stages of Planetary System Evolution 255

13.4 Conclusion 261

Acknowledgements 262

References 262

Part IV: Further Prospects 267

14 A Survey of Solar System and Galactic Objects With Pristine Surfaces That Record History and Perhaps Panspermia, With a Plan for Exploration 269
Branislav Vukotić and Richard Gordon

14.1 Introduction 269

14.1.1 Radiative Events 270

14.1.2 Solar Flares 271

14.1.2.1 Supernovae and Gamma-Ray Bursts 272

14.1.2.2 Galactic Shocks 272

14.1.2.3 Background Radiation From Galactic Sources 273

14.1.3 Collisions 273

14.1.4 Panspermia 275

14.2 Recording Properties 279

14.3 Pristine Potential of Solar System Bodies 281

14.3.1 Comets, Asteroids and Dwarf Planets 281

14.3.2 Mercury 283

14.3.3 Moon 283

14.3.4 Mars 283

14.3.5 Main Asteroid Belt 284

14.3.6 Jupiter and Saturn 285

14.3.7 Uranus and Neptune 286

14.3.8 Kuiper Belt 286

14.3.9 Oort Cloud 287

14.3.10 Meteorites 287

14.3.11 Extra-Solar Bodies 288

14.4 Prospects and Conclusions 288

Acknowledgements 289

References 289

15 The Panspermia Publications of Sir Fred Hoyle 309
Richard Gordon

Acknowledgements 316

References 316

Index 327

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.