astrobiology research conference 2015 · it is with great pleasure that i pen this message for the...

Astrobiology Research Conference

2015

Book of Abstracts

21-23 August

Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Organized by

International Research Centre University of Peradeniya

©International Research Centre

Proceedings of the Astrobiology Research Conference (AbReCon) - 2015

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, and transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher.

ISBN NO: 978-955-589-199-8

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International Research Centre (InRC) University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

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Peradeniya

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Message from the Vice Chancellor ........................................................... i Message from the High Commissioner ..................................................... ii Message from the Director InRC .............................................................. iii Message from the Conference Chair ........................................................ iv Message from the Oak Bay, BC, Canada ................................................... v

Keynote Address Page No SEARCH FOR ALIEN PLANETS AND ALIEN INTELLIGENCE Chandra Wickramasinghe

1

REVIVING MAN’S ANCIENT CONNECTION WITH THE UNIVERSE Deepak Bhimani

2

Abstracts

THE RED RAIN PHENOMENON AND ITS IMPLICATIONS IN ASTROBIOLOGY AND PANSPERMIA Godfrey Louis

3

POLONNARUWA AND ANURADHAPURA METEORITES AND THE RED RAIN OF SRI LANKA A.D.M. Damayanthi, Nalin Silva, Milton Wainwright, Jamie Wallis, Keerthi Wickramaratne and Chandra Wickramasinghe

4

A FLUORESCENT MINERAL SHIELD: PROTECTION AND ENERGY SOURCE FOR PHOTOSYNTHETIC MICROBES AGAINST HARMFUL ULTRAVIOLET RADIATIONS Tareq L. Omairi and Milton Wainwright

5

BUDDHISM AND COSMOLOGY A. A. C. Wijewardhana

7

A CANONICAL REVIEW ON THE BUDDHIST TEACHINGS OF COSMIC LIFE Mahawela Rathanapala and Iromi Ariyaratne

9

PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON THE PARABOLIC PRIMARY MIRROR MAKING STUDY FOR THE APPLICATION IN NEWTONIAN REFLECTING TELESCOPE H. S. D. Amaradasa, S. S. Abeywickrama, E. M. Ranatunga and G. D. K. Mahanama

11

2015 THE HOYLE SHIELD – A FEASIBILITY STUDY William E. (Bill) Smith

12

THE DISCOVERY OF AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL MACROORGANISM ON EARTH Robert Flome

13

EXTREMOPHILES IN SRI LANKAN DARK CAVES: A REVIEW BY LANKA INSTITUTE OF CAVE SCIENCE (LICAS) Wasantha Sena Weliange, Pathmakumara Jayasingha, R. Armstrong L. Osborne, A.S. Dandeniy, A.K. Prageeth P. Algiriya, Nayomi Sayanara Prasannajith , Saman Senanayake and Mahesh Champika

15

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS ON THE UNKNOWN MATERIAL SUSPECTED BE A METEORITE Rohana Chandrajith, L. R. K. Perera and Atula Senaratne

17

TYPICAL METEORITIC WORM-LIKE FORMS SEEN IN THE POLONNARUWA METEORITE Milton Wainwright, Christopher E. Rose, Alexander J. Baker, Briston K.J. and Chandra Wickramasinghe

18

PLUTO’S SURPRISES: MOUNTAIN TECTONICS, METHANE AND EVIDENCE OF BIOLOGY M.K. Wallis and Chandra Wickramasinghe

19

ROSETTA IMAGES OF COMET 67P/CHURYUMOV– GERASIMENKO: Max Wallis and Chandra Wickramasinghe

20

A MAN WHO CHANGED THE WAY WE SEE THE WORLD THE CENTENARY OF SIR FRED HOYLE (1915-2015) Kamala Wickramasinghe

22

LIQUID WATER IN COMETS:THEORY, EVIDENCE AND IMPLICATIONS Janaki T. Wickramasinghe, Chandra Wickramasinghe

23

FROM GEOCENTRIC BIOLOGY TO THE THEORY OF COSMIC LIFE Chandra Wickramasinghe

24

ASTROBIOLOGY AND ALGAE Sudharma Yatigammana

25

i

Dear Conference Attendees : Please accept my apologises for not being able to personally attend your conference Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has confirmed to the media on August 2, 2015, that he asked Governor General David Johnston to dissolve the Canadian Parliament for a general election to be held Monday, Oct. 19. As a result, Canadian Representatives Abroad, including Heads of Missions (like myself) and senior officials, are discourage to engage in outreach activities regardless of topic, until the election has concluded and the new government is sworn in. In this regards, as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka I must regretfully decline your invitation. However I am deeply honored and thankful for your reaching out, and wish to confirm my plan to visit the University in Peradeinya once the guidelines from the Prime Minister’s office are lifted. Like most Canadians, I was amazed at the announcements by NASA in 2013 as a result of the Kepler Mission. It seems the latest 2015 estimates are that nearly every star in the galaxy has exoplanets. Recent announcements say that every star even has exoplants in the habitable zone. I am personally conscious that the younger generation world-wide now universally accept the idea of cosmic life. Sri Lanka’s Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe has been hypothesizing this for so many years and is well known for his view that “Life is a Cosmic Phenomenon”.

Her Excellency Shelley Whiting High Commissioner of Canada to Sri Lanka and Maldives

Message from the High Commissioner

Today it is with much pleasure that I salute the University of Peradeinya’s vision of holding this conference : I especially noticed and was intrigued by your “tag line” – “Transition from Earth-Centred Biology to Cosmic Biology” . I appreciate the significance of making this statement and making it at the International Research Centre at the University of Peradeinya, in Sri Lanka. I hope the attendees all have a very productive and enjoyable time, and that those from abroad take the time to visit Polonnaruwa the site of the famous Polonnaruwa Meteorite which Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe has been so expertly analysing over the past 3 years. This is indeed the start of a new era in cosmic biology, and I am proud to be connected with your efforts to lead this consciousness change. As I learn more about this wonderful country, I can see why the people of Sri Lanka are most comfortable making this transition. Representing Canada, I am delighted that the Cattle Point Foundation, led by Oak Bay Municipality Mayor Nils Jensen, has donated a fine art piece by the famous “First Nations” Salish Artist Chris Paul. This art donation is designed to honour the conference, the University and the IRC. We also hope it will motivate students to learn more about Space Science and especially Astrobiology. The painting depicts existing life on Earth welcoming new life coming in bound to earth on a comet. The traditional animals of Canada’s Pacific North-West, the herring, the salmon, the orca and the thunderbird, reach up to the sky and to the comet, welcoming the continual inflow of life to Earth. I hope this piece, a second of a pair, the first of which I understand was recently hung at Churchill College, Cambridge University, will begin a connection between astrobiologists and all scientists of our three countries. Perhaps when I do attend the University in the near future, we can have a second informal “unveiling”.

ii

It is with great pleasure that I pen this message for the Astrobiology Research Conference 2015. The University of Peradeniya being renowned for its excellence in research, has taken yet another step towards diversifying its research efforts. Astrobiology has received much attention in the recent past, with Sri Lanka experiencing various phenomena of astrobiological interest. The astrobiology research group has been working actively towards understanding these phenomena and has evolved into a formidable team, with affiliations from scholars around the world. This conference will set the platform to bring together academicians from various fields of expertise and demonstrate how their work ties with this emerging field. The launch of the Astrobiology Research Centre which will be the first of its kind in the country, will channel all the relevant expertise into the understanding of the origin of the building blocks of life, how these biogenic compounds combine to create life, how life affects and is affected by the environment from which it arose, and of course, whether and how life expands beyond its planet of origin. It is my immense pleasure to see this Conference materialize and to witness the inception of research collaborations and projects that will have remarkable significance on our understanding of some basic questions that have been around since the dawn of mankind.

Prof. Upul Dissanayake The Vice Chancellor, University of Peradeniya

Message from the Vice Chancellor

iii

Dr. Nanda Gunawardhana Director, International Research Centre

Are we alone in the universe? Is there life out there? This has been a question that we have always had, and a question that science and some religions have tried to answer. With the development of new technology and research we are beginning to realize that there truly may be life elsewhere.

The International Research Centre initiated this conference with the guidance of Prof. Chandra Wickramasinghe. We believed that the University of Peradeniya would be the ideal setting for this conference given that the wide array of areas of research that is catered to here would serve to encompass the diverse field of astrobiological study.

Sri Lanka has experienced some attention in the past due to certain events that were of astrobiological interest, which has lead to much interesting research among scholars in Sri Lanka. Therefore this conference focuses on a broad field of themes, including Complex Organic Molecules in Space, Recent Studies of Comets, Meteorites and Red Rain, Survival of Bacteria and Viruses under Extreme Conditions, Recovery of Microorganisms from the Stratosphere, Buddhism and Cosmic Life, Fred Hoyle's contributions to science. It is our firm belief that this will serve to lay the foundation for future research in Astrobiology and will bring together scholars in Sri Lanka and around the world to further study these phenomena.

The Astrobiology Centre which is launched today will continue this work and create and maintain a network among all Sri Lankan universities and international partner universities to support and streamline astrobiology research. We welcome all scholars to join us and be a part of the noble effort.

Message from Director, InRC

iv

Prof. Chandra Wickramasinghe Professor, University of Buckingham, UK Visiting Professor, University of Peradeniya

Message from the Conference Chair

The birth of astrobiology as an exciting new branch of science has intimate connections with Sri Lanka. On April 27th 1982, I delivered the Inaugural Lecture of the newly-formed Institute of Fundamental Studies to a packed audience of science enthusiasts in Colombo. The title of my talk was “Is life an astronomical phenomenon?” and was one of the earliest lectures delivered on this subject. This was followed in December 1982 by the publication of “Proofs that Life is Cosmic” which appeared as the No.1 title of Memoirs of the Institute of Fundamental Studies. Co-authored with the late Fred Hoyle, it was printed by the Government Printer of Sri Lanka. My own joint researches with the late Sir Fred Hoyle that led to these events were the undoubted beginnings of astrobiology. It is now fitting that 33 years (1/3 of a century) later, a meeting takes place here in Peradeniya to celebrate this work and our progress.

“New ideas, fragile as spring flowers, easily bruised by the tread of the multitude, may yet be cherished by the solitary wanderer” -Sir Fred Hoyle, The Black Cloud, 1957, p142 “There’s something going on in time and space, and beyond time and space, which, whether we like it or not, spells duty” -Winston Churchill “Amongst a myriad stars; I stand along and wonder; How much life and love is there tonight?” -Chandra Wickramasinghe, as a young man in Sri Lanka

v

Mayor Nils Jensen Oak Bay Municipal, BC, Canada

Message from the Oak Bay, BC, Canada

I am delighted to support Bill Smith’s efforts in his work on behalf of the Cattle Point Foundation. Cattle Point is a location in Oak, Bay, British Columbia, Canada, designated as a Canadian National Star Park focussed on the importance of preserving DARK SKIES. Bill has told me much about Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe and his 40 years collaboration with another great Commonwealth scientist Sir Fred Hoyle. I am impressed that the University has shown such vision. Your is Astrobiology Research Conference tag line “Transition from Earth-centred Biology to Cosmic Biology” reflects this vision both of Chandra Wickramasinghe and of your University. It was only in reading todays New Scientist that I realized quite how important Chandra’s life-time work has been. The theme of the August 2015 issue is "Discoveries that would transform what it means to be human". I hope the University and its students will enjoy this art piece by one of Canada’s great First Nations artists Chris Paul. On Canada Day, July 1, 2015, we presented a sister piece at Churchill College, Cambridge, where Professor Chandra is also a fellow. I thought I would just remind you of the words we crafted on the accompanying plaques.

Key Note Speakers

21-23 August 2015

1

FROM GEOCENTRIC BIOLOGY TO COSMIC LIFE

Chandra Wickramasinghe1

1Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK

The idea that life is a phenomenon centred on the Earth has dominated Western science and philosophy for many centuries. Until half a millennium ago it was held with great fervour that the Earth was the physical centre of the entire universe. Abandoning this position involved a struggle that lasted for centuries. From the beginning of the 20th century our physical position in the Universe has diminished to the point of utter insignificance in a world of almost unimaginable proportions. Despite this transformation the role of biology as an Earth-centred phenomenon has been maintained against all the odds, and against a rising tide of contrary evidence. We discuss evidence from Astronomy, Geology and biology that shows our cosmic connection. It is shown in this lecture that life could only have arisen in a cosmic context. Evidence is presented that makes this new position inescapable. The transformation of human psychology that would follow from the acceptance of the cosmic nature of life will be explored

Astrobiology Research Conference - 2015

2

REVIVING MAN’S ANCIENT CONNECTION WITH THE UNIVERSE

Deepak Bhimani

Astronomy is the most ancient of the sciences practiced mostly by observations by the earliest humans on the planet Earth. The crop planting, seasons changing, celebrations of spring, harvesting the crops, hunting season, setting of winter, it was all times by looking at the vast calendar, the canopy above us. We have in the meantime forgotten to see up and recognize these great celestial objects. Rather our curiosity to find our origin and to fathom the great distances and to solve many mysteries have relatively diminished with ever fast changing technologies and day to day survival in the competitive world. The breed of Amateur Astronomers whose enormous contribution towards discovering the comets or novas or chasing total solar eclipses and observing subtle changes on moon, planets and distant objects etc. is rather less active in developing world. There is tremendous fun in developing this hobby and at the same time contributing to the science by reviving man’s ancient connection with the universe.

Abstracts

21-23 August 2015

3

THE RED RAIN PHENOMENON AND ITS IMPLICATIONS IN ASTROBIOLOGY AND PANSPERMIA

Godfrey Louis1

1Astrobiology Division, Department of Physics, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin , India

The red rain phenomenon happened in Kerala, India as a widely noticed event in July – September months of 2001. Minor incidents were noticed in Kerala during following years. Red rain occurred as a major event again in November- December months of 2012 in various locations in Sri Lanka. In this talk, a review is presented on the findings about this mysterious phenomenon and the implications of these findings in Astrobiology and Panspermia are discussed.

Keywords: Red rain, Astrobiology, Panspermia


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POLONNARUWA AND ANURADHAPURA METEORITES AND THE RED RAIN OF SRI LANKA

A.D.M. Damayanthi1, Nalin Silva1, Milton Wainwright2, Jamie Wallis3, Keerthi Wickramaratne4 and Chandra Wickramasinghe3

1 Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, Sri Lanka 2University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

3University of Buckingham 4Medical Research Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Meteorite events that took place in December 2012 near Polonnaruwa and in December 2013 near Anuradhapura have yielded stones of very similar general characteristics, notably displaying a high degree of porosity. Both stones under electron microscopy have shown evidence of C, N, O-rich bio morphs, of particular interest being an unmistakable range of diatom morphologies. All these structures appear to be indigenous to the meteorites, not contaminants. Some evidence of cells resembling red rain cells (which fell prior to the meteorite events) was also found in the Polonnaruwa meteorite. Analysis of stable oxygen isotopes yielded results that are inconsistent with a terrestrial origin of these stones.

Keywords:Meteorite, porosity

21-23 August 2015

5

A FLUORESCENT MINERAL SHIELD: PROTECTION AND ENERGY

SOURCE FOR PHOTOSYNTHETIC MICROBES AGAINST HARMFUL ULTRAVIOLET RADIATIONS

Tareq L. Omairi1and Milton Wainwright1

1Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University Of Sheffield, UK

Earliest life forms emerged shortly following Earth’s formation some 4.5 Billion years ago, while photosynthetic life is estimated to have appeared early, possibly correlating with first life forms around 3.8 billion years ago. However, the early Earth lacked ozone due to low oxygen levels in the stratosphere, thus posing the question of how did photosynthetic life use sunlight while avoiding harmful ultraviolet radiation? The question is particularly relevant since the surface of the planet was extremely hot and UV exposure were 10000 times what they are now, and lethal dosages of this radiation source was able to penetrate 5-10 meters, into water thus making it unlikely that life formed and thrived in Darwin's famous "warm little ponds". Although some studies have showed that phototrophs can survive UV by shielding within porous rocks, these facts obviously impose limits on the amount of sunlight early microbes would receive. A novel approach will be motioned here which could explain how the early Earth, and other planetary systems could be habitable for photosynthetic life in an environment that is exposed to lethal doses of UV. Fluorescent rock minerals can convert damaging UV light to visible light, thereby allowing photosynthetic microorganisms to survive and grow in UV-rich environments without the need for a direct light source. Fluorescent rocks made of calcite, pyrite and fluorite were inoculated with green algae (Chlorella variabilis and Dunaliellatertiolecta) and Cyanobacteria (Synechococcuselongatus and Nostoc commune ), and exposed to the three types of UV-A, B


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and C for the duration of the incubation period, growth was later calculated by optical density and chlorophyll a measurement. Results showed that microbes within the rocks not only survived the radiation, but also harnessed the generated visible light from fluorescence in order to grow. Our findings suggest that high dosages of UV reaching the planet’s surface might be favorable for photosynthetic life and not a limiting factor, thus offering new considerations when searching for habitable planets, and also suggests that life on Earth may have had an earlier starting date than is generally believed.

Keywords: Astrobiology, Fluorescent, Photosynthesis, Ultraviolet

21-23 August 2015

7

BUDDHISM AND COSMOLOGY

A. A. C. Wijewardhana1

1Buddhist Studies, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Cosmology is the science or theory about or the study of the nature and origin of the universe. In science the terms “cosmos”, “universe”, and “world” are used to mean more or less the same thing to include more the physical things than non-physical phenomena. Buddhism in that the term world according to “LokaSutta” includes everything that disintegrates or in the corollary everything that is formed covering both physical and non-physical objects and phenomena. Today different religious leaders, scientists, historians, astronomers, biologists, botanists, anthropologists and great thinkers have all contributed vast new knowledge about the origin of the world. Origin of the world, the universe, or the cosmos that has vexed the imagination of humans since antiquity is another aspect of the interface between science and religion that needs attention. However, the latest discovery and knowledge is not at all contradictory to the teaching of the Buddha. As the methodology of this survey, the both primary and secondary resources were utilized and the study limitations of the survey were to be bounded on the base of primary data. As the result of this study, cosmic life and its connection to life on earth, structure, composition and extinction of the universe and Planes of Existence in Buddhism were utilized. Origin of life according to science has taken place as an evolutionary process starting from some inorganic or organic source on the earth itself or from some extraterrestrial source. There are many hypotheses advanced as to how and from what kind of source the evolutionary process started. They all are still at the level of speculation though there is strong evidence to support the theory of evolution formulated by Charles Darwin. Whatever developments that have taken place in science relating to the origin and evolution of life, they have not come into any conflict with the teaching in


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Buddhism as in Buddhism too beginning of life is explained as an evolutionary process with beings coming to the earth from an extra-terrestrial source and evolving over millions of years to take the present life forms as stated in AggannaSutta. In the present paper, I intend to discuss about the universe and life by comparing Science with Buddhism. In the final analysis, the teaching of the Buddha goes beyond the discoveries of modern science. As to the nature of the universe, the Buddha say that the beginning and the end of the universe is inconceivable, There is no such thing as complete destruction of the whole universe at once. This is formed by the accumulation of molecules, basic elements, gas and numerous energies, a combination supported by cosmic instinct and gravity. This is the nature of the cosmic energies. Although the field of Cosmology is a new emerging field encompassing the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe, already had been presented by the Buddha 2500 years ago that are acceptable to the modern scientists and intellectuals.

Keywords:Cosmology, Cosmic Life, Extra-Terrestrial Source, Consciousness, Evolution, Charles Darwin, Evolutionary Process, Cosmic Energies, Cosmic Instinct and Gravity

21-23 August 2015

9

A CANONICAL REVIEW ON THE BUDDHIST TEACHINGS OFCOSMIC LIFE

Mahawela Rathanapala1, Iromi Ariyaratne1

1 Department of Buddhist Studies,

Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy, Pallekele, Sri Lanka

The origin and the nature of man and the world could be seen as the majortopic which has been discussed in the history of Religion and the Philosophy. Although the religion has a special goal to lead the people towards the spiritual attainment, each religion contains a doctrine regarding the origin and the nature of the world and the human life. Buddhism emphasizes the importance of getting rid of the dukkhato stop the samsaric cycle and to attain the nibbānaas its main objective. Therefore, Buddhism does not encourage followers to seek the origin and the ambit of the universe as its irrelevancy for the path of the liberation. Though the applicability is less for the liberation, Buddha had to preach about the universe quite a few times to disillusionment of the followers who were entrapped by contemporary dogmas. Considering the contemporary religious and philosophical ideas, it could be clearly pointed out that the Buddha was the only teacher who discussed about the cosmos and life rejecting heliocentric and geocentric ideas. In analysing the Buddhist standpoint of the cosmic life, it can be found there are two types of cosmological discussions have been raised in Buddhist teachings such as; 1) Historical Cosmography and 2) Analytic Cosmology. While Historical Cosmography discusses about the physical nature (the origin, existence and destruction) of the world, Analytic Cosmology explains the nature of beings existing the world. Both types of discussions show that origin and evolution of the cosmos and the beings are interrelated as a result of natural circumstances and mental factors of beings. The Buddha rejected the idea of creation


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and explained the evolutionary process of the man and world through his causal theory named as Paṭiccasamuppāda. And also the Buddhist cosmology clearly accepts that the nature of the beings can be differentiated in terms with the relevant realm of living. Thus in this paper issues related to Dimension of the Universe, Origin of the world and beings, Buddhist World View and life in different realms and Process of the life and its cessation are expected to discuss critically with special reference to the Pali Buddhist canon in a comparative basis.

Keywords: Buddhism, cosmic life, Paticcasamuppāda, Historical Cosmography, Analytic Cosmology

21-23 August 2015

11

PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON THE PARABOLIC PRIMARY MIRROR MAKING STUDY FOR THE APPLICATION IN NEWTONIAN REFLECTING

TELESCOPE

H.S.D. Amaradasa1, S.S.Abeywickrama2, E.M. Ranatunga3, G.D.K.Mahanama4

1Department of Physics, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka

A study of mirror making was initiated with the aim of designing a Newtonian reflecting telescope. Parabolic mirror of 15 cm aperture and 1.49 m focal length was made using a glass blank. Flat Soda-Lime glass was selected for this task and two identical disks were cut and inspected for any imperfection on surfaces. Inferior glass was used as the tool and other was used as the mirror. One side of a flat glass disk (one selected for the mirror) was grinded into the parabolic concave shape using series of Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) abrasives of different grit sizes. Ferric Oxide (Fe2O3) and optical pitch were used in polishing process. Depth of the mirror was checked using a parallel beam of light. Uniformity of the parabolic shape was tested using Focult and Ronchi tests. Deviations from the required parabola were investigated by employing Texerau’s method as a data reduction method. It was found that parabolic shape of the glass is satisfying astronomical optical standards of Rayleigh and Donjan&Couder criteria confirming the quality of mirror prepared by this method.

Keywords: Glass disk, Silicon carbide, Reflector, Abrasive, Parabolic shape


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2015 THE HOYLE SHIELD – A FEASIBILITY STUDY

William E. (Bill) Smith

The author has proposed the development of a “virtual IT shield” on and around the Earth, which would be designed to network a set of virus and bacteria detection sensors. The ultimate goal is a system which will automatically identify “inbound” pathogens, known and unknown, with the aim of giving virologists an added, significant period of time to develop required vaccines for any new pathogens. The global “cloud-based” IT system would manage the data in real-time and provide a mineable “Big Data” repository for all virus and bacteria inventory and movement. This paper reviews the status of the project and this feasibility phase. Sensors located: In all hospitals and sites on the earth’s surface (and, in the future, extraterrestrial bases) where the threat of pathogens exists, on a network of balloons located in the stratosphere (e.g. LOON), & on commercial and military aircraft. The ultimate goal would be to identify “inbound” pathogens, known and unknown, with the aim of giving virologists an added period of time to develop required vaccines for new pathogens. The global “cloud-based” IT system would manage the data in real-time and provide a mineable data repository for all virus and bacteria inventory and movement.

Keywords: Virtual IT shield, pathogens, stratosphere

21-23 August 2015

13

THE DISCOVERY OF AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL MACROORGANISM ON EARTH

Robert Flome1

1Victor Valley College, California, USA

An Extraterrestrial Macroorganism was videotaped by a Uniden GC 45 surveillance infrared LED camera. The Extraterrestrial Macroorganism’s movement consisted of continuously altering body shape by utilizing a pseudopod motion of expanding and retracting its projections. This type of locomotion is also observed in Amoeboids. The Extraterrestrial Macroorganism was in communication with two Pod shape objects. The Extraterrestrial Macroorganism was observed to be demonstrating searching behaviour as it slowly floated above the ground. The Extraterrestrial Macroorganism’s sensory receptors appear to be located at the anterior surface of its body. The actual determinants of the Extraterrestrial Macroorganism’s behaviour were based on Tolman's Formula of Intervening Variables and its response to the environmental stimuli. The Extraterrestrial Macroorganism demonstrated systematic behaviours, searching behaviour, motivation, and a sense of direction. As the Extraterrestrial Macroorganism ascended, its locomotion was aided by a posterior pressurized fluid of either gas or liquid that produced mechanical motion. The discovery of an Extraterrestrial Macrobe organism with microbial behaviours supports the claims by Wallis and Wickramasinghe, that microbial life was likely to exist on Comet 67P/Churyumov- Gerasimenko. This discovery of an Extraterrestrial Macroorganism also validates the Panspermia Theory that life on earth was created from space. It appears that microbes have existed in space for a long time. During this time, the microbes in space have been able to evolve over time into Macroorganisms that still exhibit microbial behaviours. In conclusion, microbes in space have evolved


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into Extraterrestrial Macroorganisms. They are here now and most likely have been here before.

Keywords: Macroorganism, pseudopod

21-23 August 2015

15

EXTREMOPHILES IN SRI LANKAN DARK CAVES: A REVIEW BY LANKA INSTITUTE OF CAVE SCIENCE (LICAS)

Wasantha Sena Weliange1,2,3,*, Pathmakumara Jayasingha1,2,4, R. Armstrong L. Osborne1,5, A.S. Dandeniya1, A.K. Prageeth P.

Algiriya1, Nayomi Sayanara Prasannajith1,6 , SamanSenanayake1 And Mahesh Champika1

1Lanka Institute of Cave Science, 45/1/1, Nawinna, Maharagama, Sri Lanka.

2Dept of Zoology, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Nigeria

3Postgraduate Institute of Archeology of the University of Kelaniya,

407 BauddhalokaMawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka 4National Building Research Organization, 99/1, Jawatta Rd, Colombo 05

5Education & Social Work, A35, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006,

Australia 6Archives and Documentation Centre, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Nigeria

The undergrounds caves receive very low levels of radiation hence considered as an extreme environment. Radiation is energy in transit, either as particles (neutrons, electrons, protons, alpha particles or heavy ions) or electromagnetic waves (gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, visible light, infrared, microwaves or radio waves). Caves are totally dark and no photosynthetic plants grow, hence chemotrophic food chains sustain the life. The chemosynthetic microbial life is similar to early life forms. Cave microbes directly involved in speleogenesis, by eating away limestone and silicates too. Documentation of fauna is done by speleobiologists. The cave fauna are worth analysing because 1) all of them have successfully invaded aphotic zone of the caves with very little food and 2) they are isolated both physically and genetically from non-cave dwellers. Caves receive all energy allochthonously via animals (bats, rats, birds, and crickets), root exudates, and water flow and windborne input; such inputs supports many detrititvores, scavangers, and a rich predator guild. We have studied 18 dark caves


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in Sri Lanka since 2008 and documented the fauna that occurs in the aphotic zones. Based on that information a generalized food chain and a food web were discussed. The cave fauna are mainly belong to detritivores (bacteria, fungi, annelids, nematodes, insects, millipedes) and carnivores (spiders). The economic value of the aphotic areas of the dark caves was estimated based on current information.

Key words: Biospeleology, Chemotrophic food chains, Speleogenesis

21-23 August 2015

17

PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS ON THE UNKNOWN MATERIAL SUSPECTED BE A METEORITE

Rohana Chandrajith1, L. R. K. Perera1 and Atula Senaratne1

1Department of Geology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

An unknown sample that is suspected to be a meteorite which was found in Colombo was investigated. The sample is brownish black colour with the weight of 34.76 g. Anhedral sample is of the size 3.5x2.7x2.4 cm in size. Preliminary investigations were carried using polarizing microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The chemical composition of several spots of the sample was measured using Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) detector.SEM observation revels that the sample is mostly amorphous. However some microcrystals were observed in the sample. The X-ray analysis indicates that Si (20%) and O (60%) are the main chemical constituents of the sample that possibly provided from SiO2.Ca (7%), Al (6%), Fe (3%), Mn (1%), were also noticed in the samples. Lesser amount of K (0.4%) and Mg (0.4%) and Ti (0.7%) were also reported. Under the polarizing microscope the specimen shows tiny colourless mineral grains within a glassy matrix. Based on optical characteristics, the minerals grains is possibly to be stishovite, an ultra-high-pressure polymorph of SiO2. This mineral forms only at extremely high pressures around 100 kilobars (i.e. about 100,000 atmospheric pressures) and is only found associated with craters produced by meteorite impacts. During such impacts rocks in the vicinity are melted under dry conditions at extremely high pressures and temperatures produced by the impact, and the melt is super-cooled to produce glass which might incorporate (trap) any gas liberated and minerals formed. Due to extremely limited time available for mineral formation (crystallization), some of the silica may form tiny stishovite grains and the mineral will be incorporated in the melt which super-cools to form the glass.


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TYPICAL METEORITIC WORM-LIKE FORMS SEEN IN THE POLONNARUWA METEORITE

Milton Wainwright1,4, Christopher E. Rose, Alexander J.

Baker2, Briston K.J.3 and Chandra Wickramasinghe4

1Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology , Leonardo Centre for Tribilogy

2Department of Mechanical Engineering , University of Sheffield 3Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of

Sheffield 4Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK

Fossilized“wormlike forms” were found in a putative new type of carbonaceous meteorite which recently fell on Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Such worm-like forms have been found in other meteorites notably the Martian Allen Hills sample and a lunar meteorite. It has been claimed that such forms are fossilized bacteria, although this possibility is still disputed. The occurrence of worm-like forms in the Polonnaruwa sample adds weight to the view that it is a meteorite and not, as has been suggested, a fulgurites, formed by lightning striking the Earth’s surface. Keywords: Meteorites, fossilized bacteria, Allen Hills meteorite, panspermia

21-23 August 2015

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PLUTO’S SURPRISES: MOUNTAIN TECTONICS, METHANE AND EVIDENCE OF BIOLOGY

M.K. Wallis1 and Chandra Wickramasinghe2

1Institute for the Study of Panspermia and Astro-economics, Gifu,

Japan 2Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham,

Buckingham, UK

First results from the New Horizon Mission to Pluto shows evidence of a fluid interior with a presumed radioactive heat source driving mountain tectonics and surface restructuring. The presence of methane ice is intriguing, suggesting past or ongoing biological sources. Keywords:Pluto, TNO objects, radioactive heating, mountain tectonics, planetary bio-methane


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ROSETTA IMAGES OF COMET 67P/CHURYUMOV– GERASIMENKO:

Max Wallis1 and N. Chandra Wickramasinghe1, 2, 3

1Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology (BCAB), Buckingham University, UK

2Institute for the Study of Panspermia and Astroeconomics, Gifu, Japan

3University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

The Rosetta mission has given us remarkable images of comet 67P/C-G both from the orbiter, and recently from the Philae lander during its brief days before running out of power. Though its crust is very black, there are several indicators of an underlying icy morphology. Comet 67P displays smooth, planar ‘seas’ (the largest 600 m × 800 m) and flat-bottomed craters, both features seen also on Comet Tempel-1. Comet 67P’s surface is peppered with mega-boulders (10–70 km) like Comet Hartley-2, while parallel furrowed terrain appears as a new ice feature. The largest sea (‘Cheops’ Sea, 600 m × 800 m) curves around one lobe of the 4 km diameter comet, and the crater lakes extending to ~150 m across are re-frozen bodies of water overlain with organic-rich debris (sublimation lag) of order 10 cm. The parallel furrows relate to flexing of the asymmetric and spinning two-lobe body, which generates fractures in an underlying body of ice. The mega-boulders are hypothesised to arise from bolide impacts into ice. In the very low gravity, boulders ejected at a fraction of 1 m/s would readily reach ~100 m from the impact crater and could land perched on elevated surfaces. Where they stand proud, they indicate stronger refrozen terrain or show that the surface they land on (and crush) sublimates more quickly. Outgassing due to ice-sublimation was already evident in September at 3.3 AU, with surface temperature peaks of 220–230 K, which implies impure

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ice mixtures with less strongly-bound H2O. Increasing rates of sublimation as Rosetta follows comet 67P around its 1.3 AU perihelion will further reveal the nature and prevalence of near-surface ices.

Keywords: Comet, Rosetta mission, Comet 67P; Churyumov-Gerasimenko, Comet Tempel-1, cometary ice, cometary lakes.


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A MAN WHO CHANGED THE WAY WE SEE THE WORLD THE CENTENARY OF SIR FRED HOYLE (1915-2015)

Kamala Wickramasinghe1

1Institute for the Study of Panspermia and Astro-economics, Gifu, Japan

Fred Hoyle strode the scientific stage of the 20th century like a colossus inspiring a whole generation of scientists but also reaching out to millions with his lectures and his science fiction works. Throughout a career spanning six decades, he sought answers to some of the biggest questions posed by physics and astronomy and was a tireless and creative pioneer, the latter often leading him to being at odds with the mainstream of science. He invented the Steady State theory, was the founder of astrobiology and he discovered how the chemical elements, which are the basis of all life, are formed. His legacy to modern science is arguably unparalleled and his more radical theories about the origin of life are finally on the brink of being accepted.

Keywords: Steady State theory, Astrobiology

21-23 August 2015

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LIQUID WATER IN COMETS: THEORY, EVIDENCE AND IMPLICATIONS

Janaki T. Wickramasinghe1and Chandra Wickramasinghe1

1Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology, University of Buckingham, UK

We model the heating of a rotating icy organic-rich comet as it approaches perihelion and argue that subsurface domains of water can form which are suitable for the replication of microorganism. We discuss recent evidence that supports the theory that comets carry primordial microorganisms that are amplified in planetary systems and expelled back into interstellar space. Recent discoveries of exoplanetary systems, some possessing comets, show similar processes are commonplace in the galaxy. Keywords: Microorganism


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ASTROBIOLOGY AND ALGAE

Sudharma Yatigammana1

1Department of Zoology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

After the origin of planet Earth, several evolutionary steps of chemical environment have helped to form life on Earth some 3.5 billion years ago. The abiogenesis and protobiology phases of the Earth’s atmosphere helped the origin of amino acid and nucleic acid, called ecobiont or protobiont. The life originated under these processes initially has been divided into three domains: Eobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Eukaryotes (Bacteria, Archaea and Eukaryotes) which ultimately evolve into land plants. During the period when Cyanobacteria and microalgae were originated the ground surfaces were known to have extreme environmental conditions. The recent studies on the distribution of microalgae and Cyanobacteria in extreme environments prove that they have the ability to survive in such environments due to the high adaptability that help them fit to the environment. Some Cyanobacteria have the ability to form crust in desert environments which allow them resist to sand wind erosion. As the nearer plants that will have the potential for future explorations by human are also characterized by a layer of fine dust, the colonization of crust forming Cyanobacteria will help control the effect of desert sands through the formation of a surface cover. Thus the understanding of microbe-mineral interactions will definitely help precede the human exploration and settlement of space. On the other hand the studies carried out to explore the potential life forms in frozen environments indicate that filamentous Cyanobacteria and unicellular green algae maintains relatively high chlorophyll a values even in permanently frozen environments. In addition these algae and Cyanobacteria groups maintain a high percentage of viable cells and have the ability to maintain morphological characteristics even in dark permafrost, reflecting their ability to tolerate long term

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freezing. Further, a series of freezing, thawing and freezing-drying events occurred in the earth’s history also could not remove these organisms from the environment. Although Cyanobacteria and microalgae have been originated some billions of years ago, they still dominate in the environment despite the several extinction events experienced by the other life forms during the Earth’s history. Thus these organisms are now being considered as potential candidates for environmental proxies to explore the possible life in both cryogenic and thermogenic extraterrestrial bodies.


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Conference-Chair Prof. Chandra Wickramasinghe

Affiliated Visiting Professor, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Director of the Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology

University of Buckingham, UK

Organising Committee

Prof. Atula Senaratne - University of Peradeniya

Prof. Rohana Chandrajith -University of Peradeniya

Dr. Chandika Gamage - University of Peradeniya

Dr. Mohan Lal Jayatilake - University of Peradeniya

Dr. Nanda Gunawardhana- University of Peradeniya

Dr. Nimal Sandaratne- University of Peradeniya

Dr. Sudharma Yatigammana- University of Peradeniya

Dr. Susiji Wickramasinghe - University of Peradeniya

Dr. Terrence Madhujith - University of Peradeniya

Dr. W.D.S.J. Wicramasinghe - University of Peradeniya

Mr. H. D. Gunawardene- Eisenhower Foundation

International Advisory Board

Prof. Brig Klyce - Astrobiology Research Trust, USA

Prof. Gensuke Tokoro - Institute for the Study of Panspermia and

Astroeconomics, Japan

Prof. Godfrey Louis - Cochin University, India

Prof. Milton Wainwright - University of Sheffield, UK

Prof. Richard B. Hoover - Marshal SFC, USA

Prof. T. Matsui - Tokyo University, Japan

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astrobiology research conference 2015 · it is with great pleasure that i pen this message for the...

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