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The theory of cometary panspermia is reviewed in relation to evidence from astronomy, biology and recent studies of meteorites. The spectroscopic signatures in interstellar material within our galaxy and in external galaxies that have been known for many years most plausibly represent evidence for the detritus of life existing on a cosmic scale. Such spectral features discovered in galaxies of high redshift points to life arising at a very early stage in the history of the Universe. Evidence of fossils of microscopic life forms in meteorites that have been discussed over several decades, and augmented recently with new data, reaffirms the case for cometary panspermia.

In 1986 Alex Dalgarno published a paper entitled Is Interstellar Chemistry Useful?¹ By the middle 1970s, and perhaps even earlier, Alex had hoped that astronomical molecules would prove to: possess significant diagnostic utility; control many of the environments in which they exist; stimulate a wide variety of physicists and chemists who are at least as fascinated by the mechanisms forming and removing the molecules as by astronomy. His own research efforts have contributed greatly to the realization of that hope. This paper contains a few examples of: how molecules are used to diagnose large-scale dynamics in astronomical sources including star forming regions and supernovae; the ways in which molecular processes control the evolution of astronomical objects such as dense cores destined to become stars and very evolved giant stars; theoretical and laboratory investigations that elucidate the processes producing and removing astronomical molecules and allow their detection.

The theory of cometary panspermia is reviewed in relation to evidence from astronomy, biology, and recent studies of meteorites. The spectroscopic signatures in interstellar material within our galaxy and in external galaxies that have been known for many years most plausibly represent evidence for the detritus of life existing on a cosmic scale. Such spectral features discovered in galaxies of high redshift points to life arising at a very early stage in the history of the Universe. Evidence of fossils of microscopic life forms in meteorites that have been discussed over several decades, and augmented recently with new data, reaffirms the case for cometary panspermia.

With steadily mounting evidence that points to a cosmic origin of terrestrial life, a cultural barrier prevails against admitting that such a connection exists. Astronomy continues to reveal the presence of organic molecules and organic dust on a huge cosmic scale, amounting to a third of interstellar carbon tied up in this form. Just as the overwhelming bulk of organics on Earth stored over geological timescales are derived from the degradation of living cells, so it seems most likely that interstellar organics in large measure also derive from biology. As we enter a new decade — the year 2010 — a clear pronouncement of our likely alien ancestry and of the existence of extraterrestrial life on a cosmic scale would seem to be overdue.

This essay traces the progress towards establishing panspermia as a new paradigm from the time of its last revival in the late 1970's to the year 2002. Many lines of evidence are seen to converge on the hypothesis that life is a cosmic phenomenon.

The data on the far-ultraviolet extinction of starlight in our galaxy and in external galaxies is interpreted in terms of the widespread occurrence of organic particles of optical refractive index 1.4 and radii less than or equal to 20 nm. Such particles are candidates for nanobacteria such as recently been found in abundance on the Earth.

Panspermia, an ancient idea, posits that microbial life is ubiquitous in the Universe. After several decades of almost irrational rejection, panspermia is at last coming to be regarded as a serious contender for the beginnings of life on our planet. Astronomical data is shown to be consistent with the widespread distribution of complex organic molecules and dust particles that may have a biological provenance. A minuscule (10⁻²¹) survival rate of freeze-dried bacteria in space is all that is needed to ensure the continual recycling of cosmic microbial life in the galaxy. Evidence that terrestrial life may have come from elsewhere in the solar system has accumulated over the past decade. Mars is seen by some as a possible source of terrestrial life, but some hundreds of billions of comets that enveloped the entire solar system, are a far more likely primordial reservoir of life. Comets would then have seeded Earth, Mars, and indeed all other habitable planetary bodies in the inner regions of the solar system. The implications of this point of view, which was developed in conjunction with the late Sir Fred Hoyle since the 1970's, are now becoming amenable to direct empirical test by studies of pristine organic material in the stratosphere. The ancient theory of panspermia may be on the verge of vindication, in which case the entire universe would be a grand crucible of cryomicrobiology.

A broad emission band over the wavelength range ~6000–7500 Å in submicron dust in the galaxy and in M82 can be explained by fluorescence phenomena in low-temperature chloroplasts and bacterial pigments. Alternative explanations do not appear to be promising.

The arguments in support of life as a cosmic phenomenon are not readily accepted by a culture in which a geocentric theory of biology is seen as the norm.

There exists a close correspondence between the measured infrared properties of diatoms and the infrared spectrum of interstellar dust as observed in the Trapezium nebula and toward the galactic center source GC-IRS 7. Diatoms and bacteria also exhibit an absorbance peak near 2200 Å, which is found to agree with the observed ultraviolet absorbance properties of interstellar grains. We review the observational data and consider the known properties of diatoms and bacteria. It is suggested that these characteristics are consistent with the concept of a cosmic microbiological system in which these or similar microorganisms might exist on comets, Europa and in interstellar space.

The 3.28 μm feature observed in the diffuse galactic emission and the 2200 Å interstellar extinction feature must have a common source. This requirement rules out graphitic-type PAH molecules such as coronone and tends to favour naturally occurring bi-cyclic ring structures typified by quinoline and its derivatives.

We show that the recently observed 3.3 μm emission feature in the diffuse radiation from the galactic disk might be due to an ensemble of aromatic molecules distributed within very small interstellar grains. The same particles also provide an explanation of the λ2200 Å interstellar absorption feature.

Refractory grains of graphite and silicates ejected from cool giant stars acquire mantles of organic polymers typified by polyoxymethyline in interstellar clouds. Infrared emission from the Trapezium nebula is consistent with the occurrence of such polymers.

We show that heterocyclic aromatic compounds could explain the interstellar absorption feature at 2200Å, requiring 10% of the available interstellar C and N to be tied up in this form.

New evidence related to the origins of life in the cosmos combined with continuing progress in probing conditions of the early universe using the James Web Telescope suggest that long-held orthodox positions may be flawed. Only by objective evaluating the new facts and recognising the cultural forces at work can further progress be made towards resolving perhaps the most important and fundamental questions in science.

The phenomenon of extended red emission in galactic sources, known for nearly 3 decades is best explained on the basis of biological pigments. Pigments associated with the “Red Rain of Kerala” provide a good model, although other biological pigments more generally would also serve well as a possible explanation.