An Ahh-Mazing AHA! Discovery Several Steps Outside the Scientific Mainstream
It may have taken the European Space Agency lander, Philae, more than six months to awaken after his bumpy landing on the shady side of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko last November, but boy did he have a message to share when his solar panels recharged. According to the data being transmitted home, there’s evidence to support the theory that micro-organisms are living beneath the surface of the comet.
The comet has a black hydrocarbon crust with icy “seas,” and craters containing lakes of re-frozen water that are covered with organic debris. Astronomers currently believe that the environment could support microbes living in these watery regions of the comet, and could survive in temperatures as low as -40C.
Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe has been part of the Rosetta mission’s planning since its beginnings 15 years ago, and believes we need to be more open to the possibility of alien life. Wickramasinghe said, “Five hundred years ago, it was a struggle to have people accept that Earth was not the center of the universe. After that revolution our thinking has remained Earth-Centered in relation to life and biology. It’s deeply ingrained in our scientific culture and it will take a lot of evidence to kick it over.”
Professor Wickramasinghe’s theories are definitely outside the scientific mainstream. Since we are science geeks not always in the scientific mainstream ourselves, we find the possibility of life on the comet fascinating.
Now, it’s come to light that Philae has once again gone silent, just as Comet 67P is reaching the closest approach to the sun, when Philae will have his best shot to repower. If he doesn’t wake up soon, it will be another 6.5 years before this chance comes again. We’re keeping the faith, and following Philae’s Twitter Page for the next time he decides to phone home. (Wake up, Philae! We love your Pioneer Spirit!)
It is our Ahh-mazing AHA! Discovery for July 2015: Philae’s potential discovery of alien life.
Do you have an Ahh-mazing “AHA” Discovery to share?
Email inquiries@aquanew.com. This can be any idea or endeavor that may help others in their own revelation or better quality of life. Alternatively, want to nominate someone with special skills of creativity and innovation? Let us know!
Past “AHA” Discoveries:
- February 2015: Designer Walter Herbst, hosted by BIZ941 Magazine – Practical Tool Ingenuity
- March 2015: Dr. Steven Nissen, hosted by NPR Radio – Science Busting on Dietary Cholesterol
- April 2015: Theoretical physicist and Nobel Prize winner Peter Higgs – Higgs Boson “God Particle.”
- May 2015: Electromagnetic sensor used on glaciers – SkyTEM
- June 2015: Watt-Ahh inventor, Rob Gourley – Polarized Water stabilizing low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide for two years.
Be the Ahh! – Drink Watt-Ahh®!