Scientists argue in a new paper that the growing demand for space exploration is increasing the chances of alien organisms invading Earth and other planets.
Humans have a record of moving species to new environments on Earth where they can become invaders and harm the native species, and this behavior suggests that alien life could do the same, according to the paper.
The search for life beyond our world is an exciting endeavor that could yield an enormous discovery in the not-too- distant future, according to the lead author. In the face of increasing space missions, it is crucial to reduce the risks of biological contamination in both directions.
The paper was used by Ricciardi and his colleagues to call for more collaborative studies between the two fields. Ricciardi said that they can only speculate on what kinds of organisms might be encountered. The most plausible life-forms would be microbes.
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The scientists think that the risk of interplanetary contamination is very low because of the harsh conditions of outer space. Ricciardi said that we should still be cautious of interplanetary contamination because of the negative impacts that invaders have had on Earth.
Humans allow organisms to invade new environments they wouldn't reach naturally. A South American fungus called Austropuccinia psidii was introduced to Australia in unknown circumstances and is taking over the country's native eucalyptus trees.
The researchers noted that native wildlife in countries like Australia that have evolved in geographical isolation are vulnerable to invaders because they haven't evolved to deal with them. "Biological invasions have been devastating for the plants and animals in these systems," Ricciardi said. "We argue that planets and moons should be treated as if they were isolated systems."
The Israeli Beresheet spaceship that crashed into the moon in February was cited by the researchers as evidence of interplanetary contamination. A study published in the journal Astrobiology concluded that the creatures probably wouldn't have survived the impact of the lunar crash, but that the incident shows the potential for biological spills.
NASA and other space agencies have been aware of the risks of biologicalContamination and planetary protection policies have been in place since the 1960s. "However, unprecedented risks are posed by a new era of space exploration aimed at targeting areas most likely to contain life," Ricciardi said. The rise in private space exploration companies such as SpaceX is making space more accessible, according to the paper. The goal of the program is to travel to Mars and beyond.
The researchers suggest that space travel should include increased protocols for detecting potential biological contaminants and developing plans for a rapid response to any such detections.
A scientist who was not involved in the paper said that meteorites have always exchanged material with planets and moons.
The new paper is an excellent overview of the current and continuous need for strict and up-to-date planetary protection rules. The current planetary protection guidelines are not mandatory.
The line between exploration and preservation is thin. One shouldn't be abandoned at the cost of the other, but both require careful consideration and compliance.
Live Science published the original article.
