Wainwright, M.Wickramasinghe, N. C.Narlikar, J. V.et al.2012-03-272012-03-272002-12-03http://hdl.handle.net/11007/1634Samples 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 discussedenExobiologyAstrobiologyPanspermiaExtreme environmentArticle