[meteorite-list] Kerala Red Rain Was From A Comet, Study Suggests

[Mike Fowler]

http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=% 
7BEC0520F4-92DC-452E-AB55-AD89E642DF32%7D&CATEGORYNAME=National

While I find the idea of extra-terrestrial life, even cellular extra- 
terrestrial  life a fascinating subject,  these red rain studies have  
made such giant claims on the basis of such flimsy evidence!  How  
about a simple Oxygen isotope analysis to determine if it is extra- 
terrestrial?

If these "cells" were biotic  couldn't they be tested for amino  
acids?  And if so which ones, and what chirality?    I think I read a  
previous study that indicated that the material was strangely lacking  
in nitrogen.   If so how can these "cells" be biotic, let alone extra- 
terristrial?

Sincerely,

Mike Fowler



> Kerala red rain was comet disintegration
> Ceannai Online
> May 31, 2006
>
> Kottayam, May 31: The "red rains" in Kerala five years ago was the  
> result
> of the atmospheric disintegration of a comet, according to a study.
>
> The study conducted at the School of Pure and Applied Physics of  
> the MG
> University here by Dr Godfrey Louis and his student a Santosh Kumar
> shows that red rain cells were devoid of DNA which suggests their
> extra-terrestrial origin.
>
> The findings published in the international journal 'Astrophysics and
> Space Science' state that the cometery fragment contained dense
> collection of red cells.
>
> Commenting on the study at a press conference here, Dr N Chandra
> Wikramesinghe, Director of Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology, UK, said
> "what makes this study most important is the similarity of the red
> particles with living cells."
>
> "If the red rain cells are finally proved to be of extra-terrestrial
> origin then that would be one of the most important discoveries in
> human history. It will change our concept about the universe and
> life," he added.
>
> The red coloured rains were reported in different parts of Kerala
> from July to September 2001.