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Study of putative microfossils in space dust from the stratosphere

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2010

Kani Rauf ,
Anthony Hann ,
Max Wallis  and
Chandra Wickramasinghe
Kani Rauf
Affiliation:
Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3DY, UK
Anthony Hann
Affiliation:
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3US, UK
Max Wallis
Affiliation:
Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3DY, UK
Chandra Wickramasinghe*
Affiliation:
Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3DY, UK
*
e-mail: ncwick@googlemail.com
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Abstract

Interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) were recovered from the stratosphere by a cryosampler flown below a balloon flying at altitudes of 20–41 km. The present study uses high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry to examine fresh samples collected at 38–41 km. The SEM observations confirm the presence of 7–32 μm sized clusters of coccoidal (0.4–1.3 μm in diameter) and rod-shaped (0.6–2.5 μm in length) objects as components of the IDP complex. Many single globules (1.6–9.0 μm in diameter) are also observed, some of which exhibit a rough surface with filamentous features of variable lengths. The spectrophotometry of the particles in aggregate reveals a prominent peak centred at 216 nm, which is remarkably similar to that of diatoms and close to the UV astronomical feature of 217.5 nm that has been identified as the spectral characteristic of aromatic hydrocarbons. The evidence presented here suggests that the stratospheric particles are IDPs comprising an assortment of materials among which are included microfossil-like features in variable sizes and forms, such as coccoids, rods and filaments.

Keywords

astrobiologyelectron microscopymicrofossil-like featuresstratospheric air particlesultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , July 2010 , pp. 183 - 189
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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