Evidence for microorganisms in stratosphere air samples collected at a height of 41km

Milton Wainwright; Nalin Chandra Wickramasinghe; J. V. Narlikar; P. Rajaratnam

doi:10.1117/12.509505

26 February 2003 Evidence for microorganisms in stratosphere air samples collected at a height of 41km

Milton Wainwright, Nalin Chandra Wickramasinghe, J. V. Narlikar, P. Rajaratnam

Proceedings Volume 4859, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology V; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.509505
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

Samples of air removed from the stratosphere, at an altitude of 41km, were previously found to contain viable, but non-cultureable bacteria (cocci and rods). Here, we describe experiments aimed at growing these organisms, together with any others, present in the samples. Two bacteria (Bacillus simplex and Staphylococcus pasteuri) and a single fungus, Engyodontium albus (limber)de Hoog were isolated from the samples. Contamination can never be ruled out when space-derived samples are studied on earth, however, we are confident that the organisms isolated here originated from the stratosphere.

Citation Download Citation

Milton Wainwright, Nalin Chandra Wickramasinghe, J. V. Narlikar, and P. Rajaratnam "Evidence for microorganisms in stratosphere air samples collected at a height of 41km", Proc. SPIE 4859, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology V, (26 February 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.509505

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