Research Publications

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://localhost:4000/handle/11007/1

Browse

Author: search.filters.author.Wickramasinghe, N. C.Subject: search.filters.subject.Panspermia

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Microorganisms cultured from stratospheric air samples obtained at 41 km
    (Elsevier Science Publishers, 2002-12-03) Wainwright, M.; Wickramasinghe, N. C.; Narlikar, J. V.; et al.
    Samples of air removed from the stratosphere, at an altitude of 41 km, were previously found to contain viable, but non-cultureable bacteria (cocci and rods). Here, we describe experiments aimed at growing these, together with any other organisms, present in these samples. Two bacteria (Bacillus simplex and Staphylococcus pasteuri) and a single fungus, Engyodontium album (Limber) de Hoog were isolated from the samples. Although the possibility of contamination can never be ruled out when space-derived samples are studied on earth, we are confident that the organisms originated from the stratosphere. Possible mechanisms by which these organisms could have attained such a height are discussed
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Detection of living cells in stratospheric samples
    (SPIE Conference, 2002-04-14) Narlikar, J. V.; Harris, Melanie J.; Wickramasinghe, N. C.; et al.
    Air samples collected aseptically over tropical India at various stratospheric altitudes ranging from 20 to 41 km using cryosampler assemblies carried on balloons flown from Hyderabad have shown evidence of living microbial cells. Unambiguous evidence of living cells came from examining micropore filters on which the samples were recovered with the use of voltage sensitive lipophilic dyes that could detect the presence of active cells. Clumps of viable cells were found at all altitudes using this technique, and this conclusion was found to be consistent with images obtained from electron microscopy. Since the 41 km sample was collected well above the local tropopause, aprimafacie case for a space incidence of these microoraganisms is established. Further work on culturing, PCR analysis and isotopic analysis is in progress.