Scientists search for space 'bugs'

Scientists will investigate what comets deposit on earth

A search for extraterrestrial bugs which may be invading Earth has been launched by British scientists.

Astronomers and biologists in Cardiff, will look for signs of alien microbes and biomolecules in the upper atmosphere as well as in comets and interstellar dust.

Many experts believe primitive life or its components may be transported through space in comets, dust and rocks blasted off planets by powerful impacts.

According to some theories, life from space may have been "seeded" on Earth, and could even now be fuelling epidemics of flu and other illnesses.

Scientists at the UK's first centre for astrobiology in Cardiff hope their research will help unravel some of these mysteries.

'Catch them here'

The new facility, set up by the city's University and the University of Wales College of Medicine, will also contribute to space missions.

The centre's Dr Max Wallis said: "Because we think life forms come to Earth from comets and other planetary bodies we don't have to go up to space, we can just catch them here.

"We will be examining DNA to see if we can detect extra-terrestrial life, and that research should help us understand epidemics."

Initially, scientists will look for evidence of life in the upper atmosphere as well as in comets and interstellar dust.

Scientists thought these fossils could be Martian bugs

In 1996 scientists at the American space agency Nasa claimed to have found the first evidence of extraterrestrial life in a Martian meteorite - a piece of Mars rock that landed on Antarctica.

The jury is still out on whether or not the tiny structures they found were microfossils of ancient Martian bugs.

Recently scientists examining the same meteorite concluded that micro organisms could have survived the heat generated when the rock was blasted off Mars.

To mark the centre's opening, an inaugural lecture, which is free to the public, will take place on 6 November at Cardiff University.