Scientists warn that aliens can get to Earth in our own spaceship

Scientists warn that alien organisms may reach Earth using our own spacecraft exploring space. Writes about it Independent.

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Over time, humanity moved species across continents as they migrated; perhaps the same can happen when we explore the outer reaches of the solar system.

“The search for life beyond the planet is an exciting endeavor that could lead to a huge discovery in the near future,” said Anthony Ricciardi, a biology professor at McGill University in Montreal. “However, in the face of an increase in the number of space missions (including those designed to return samples to Earth), it is critical to reduce the risks of biological contamination in both directions.”

Most likely, any invasive species found on an alien planet will be microbiological and will resemble bacteria on Earth. While the likelihood that any extraterrestrial life form will travel through space is very small due to the harsh conditions of interstellar travel, researchers say we must remain careful.

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“Biological invasions have often been devastating to plants and animals,” Ricciardi said, pointing to ecosystems on Earth that have evolved without protection from invasive species in countries such as Australia. “Planets and moons that potentially harbor life should be treated as if they were island systems.”

Although there is no evidence of alien contamination yet, humans brought bacteria to the Moon when the Beresheet probe crashed and deposited thousands of tardigrades, the most resilient form of life on Earth, on its surface.

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The researchers suggest that in the future, humanity should focus on the early detection of biological pollutants and develop rapid response plans.

NASA has had plans for biological hazards from space since the 1960s, but "a new era of space exploration aimed at planets most likely to contain life" poses new challenges, Riccardi said.

However, in other areas of space exploration, governments were reluctant to change existing legislation. Currently, a huge amount of space debris is accumulating around our planet, but no government has taken on the task of clearing it, because the current rules are extremely outdated.

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