Forward-contamination: Difference between revisions
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'''Forward-contamination''' is the contamination of other worlds with [[Earth]] microbes. The risk of forward-contamination is twofold: that human beings may accidentally seed a previously sterile world, thus creating "[[extraterrestrials]]" that are really of terrestrial origin (and which might even make it impossible to determine whether the life later found is terrestric or local); or that an actual alien [[biosphere]] could be devastated by Earth's bacteria. |
'''Forward-contamination''' is the contamination of other worlds with [[Earth]] microbes. The risk of forward-contamination is twofold: that human beings may accidentally seed a previously sterile world, thus creating "[[extraterrestrials]]" that are really of terrestrial origin (and which might even make it impossible to determine whether the life later found is terrestric or local); or that an actual alien [[biosphere]] could be devastated by Earth's bacteria. |
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Forward-contamination has been demonstrated by the [[Myth of Streptococcus mitis on the moon|apparent survival]] on the [[Moon]] of [[Streptococcus]] bacteria on [[Surveyor 3]], which is however no longer thought to be true. |
Forward-contamination has been demonstrated by the [[Myth of Streptococcus mitis on the moon|apparent survival]] on the [[Moon]] of [[Streptococcus]] bacteria on [[Surveyor 3]], which is however no longer thought to be true{{FACT}}. |
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Given the impossibility of sending a [[bacteria]]-free human being into space, forward-contamination will remain an issue for as long as manned missions continue. Assuming a manned mission eventually reaches [[Mars]], for example, it is inevitable that a microbial soup will be released into the environment of the red planet. The best known fictional portrayal of forward-contamination is in ''[[The War of the Worlds]]'', where would-be alien conquerors are killed off by Earth microbes. |
Given the impossibility of sending a [[bacteria]]-free human being into space, forward-contamination will remain an issue for as long as manned missions continue. Assuming a manned mission eventually reaches [[Mars]], for example, it is inevitable that a microbial soup will be released into the environment of the red planet. The best known fictional portrayal of forward-contamination is in ''[[The War of the Worlds]]'', where would-be alien conquerors are killed off by Earth microbes. |
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Revision as of 07:03, 10 January 2009
Forward-contamination is the contamination of other worlds with Earth microbes. The risk of forward-contamination is twofold: that human beings may accidentally seed a previously sterile world, thus creating "extraterrestrials" that are really of terrestrial origin (and which might even make it impossible to determine whether the life later found is terrestric or local); or that an actual alien biosphere could be devastated by Earth's bacteria.
Forward-contamination has been demonstrated by the apparent survival on the Moon of Streptococcus bacteria on Surveyor 3, which is however no longer thought to be true[citation needed].
Given the impossibility of sending a bacteria-free human being into space, forward-contamination will remain an issue for as long as manned missions continue. Assuming a manned mission eventually reaches Mars, for example, it is inevitable that a microbial soup will be released into the environment of the red planet. The best known fictional portrayal of forward-contamination is in The War of the Worlds, where would-be alien conquerors are killed off by Earth microbes.