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Alien life found floating 27 km above Chester, England?

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From Britain’s Independent:

A team of British scientists is convinced it has found proof of alien life, after it harvested strange particles from the edge of space.

The scientists sent a balloon 27km into the stratosphere, which came back carrying small biological organisms which they believe can only have originated from space.

Professor Milton Wainwright told The Independent that he was “95 per cent convinced” that the organisms did not originate from earth.

“By all known information that science has, we know that they must be coming in from space,” he said. “There is no known mechanism by which these life forms can achieve that height. As far as we can tell from known physics, they must be incoming.” More.

Well, maybe. Trouble is, earthly life forms have often surprised, amazed, astonished researchers with hitherto unrealized capabilities. Geckos using the van der Waals force to climb glass columns come to mind. Who knew they could do this? Then there are the nearly unkillable water bears.

These comparatively recent findings make one pause for thought about the “known physics” of Earth’s life forms.

File under: If it’s found anywhere around here, it is probably an inmate.

Comments
The organisms are probably not alive, but, excitingly, probably do contain DNA.
Probably? Probably?Box
October 1, 2013
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“There is no known mechanism by which these life forms can achieve that height. As far as we can tell from known physics, they must be incoming.” Isn't this an argument by ignorance?Kajdron
October 1, 2013
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I do not find it inconceivable that small organisms could be propelled into the high atmosphere by strong wind or other geological activity (i.e. volcanoes). It seems to me to be completely unscientific to conclude - against the backdrop of a totally lifeless solar system and in the absence of any real evidence at all - that these "must" be of alien origin. It tends to confirm that the search for extra-terrestrial life is not a scientific undertaking, but a philosophic article of faith. I think we can safely relegate these conclusions to the great pile of failed "ET sightings" - from microbes on crashed meteors in the Antarctic, to the brief flush of excitement scientists experienced when microbes were "found" on Mars back in 2002.CalvinsBulldog
September 30, 2013
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It wasn't news then Jerad, now it's news. sheeshMung
September 29, 2013
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Is this not the same story posted at UD 9 days ago by vjtorley? https://uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/it-came-from-outer-space-have-british-scientists-found-proof-of-alien-life/Jerad
September 29, 2013
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