The researchers checked, whether in the lake live "other", as announced by NASA astrobiologists

Not of this world

Sensational press conference that NASA has conducted two years ago - December 2, 2010. After all, it was announced that found the representatives of extraterrestrial life. And not some dried-up corpses and the living beings. Found, though not on Mars as we would like and as you would expect. And not even in the depths of space. But on the Earth. Specifically in the salt lake Mono, located Mono in Yosemite national Park in California (Mono Lake in California's Yosemite National Park.

The role of the aliens were proposed tiny bacteria, which managed to fish out of salt deposits on the bottom of the lake to the members of the joint research group of the University of Arizona (Arizona State University) and Astrologicheskogo Institute NASA's Astrobiology Institute). The expedition was headed by Felicia wolf-Simon (Felisa Wolfe-Simon). She then insisted in scientific publications found something quite alien to our earthly life.

Bacteria lake Mono supernatural fact that in their DNA and RNA built arsenic, not phosphorus, like all organisms on our planet. First of nothing found. Even speculated that this is possible in principle.

Life on Earth is based on six chemical elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur. They are the building blocks of amino acids, DNA, proteins, fats. Phosphorus is one of the most important elements, without "block" which was thought about life cannot be and speeches. As it turned out, he can. And bacteria lake Mono, the designation of GFAJ-1, proof of this. Instead of phosphorus arsenic. In the periodic table it is phosphorus. And very similar to it in the physical-chemical properties. But not the same. Arsenic is a poison for the earth organisms.

They are strange. But our?

Felicia shared by bacteria from the lake Mono with other scientists. Those we expand them have experienced. And now write papers that claim that Felicia and supported its NASA was wrong about the discovery of extraterrestrial life. Like, not that these GFAJ-1 "other".

For example, as suggested by the group under the direction of rosemary Redfield (Rosemary Redfield) from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver Canada (University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada), bacteria lake Mono do not eat arsenic. And do not use it for their growth.

Canadians are echoed by Swiss. According to their data, building material in GFAJ-1 still phosphorus, not arsenic. Although they have high resistance to otraslyam effects last. In other words, the bacteria does not contradict established on the Ground rules of life.

Felicia, of course, disagrees. Commenting on the work of colleagues, it emphasises that in them there is nothing that disagreed with her studies. About the fact that GFAJ-1 eat arsenic no speech. And the presence of arsenic, built-in molecules of DNA and RNA bacteria, no one has refuted.

Guests from the past life

- Life is not limited to those forms, which we now know, - insists Felicia, who now works at the National laboratory behalf of the Lawrence Berkeley US Department of energy (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory).

Developing such thoughts - about unknown life forms, scientists, supporting the researcher include: on other planets they form able to start. And in abundance. This planet do not have to be like Earth. That is, to have the water and oxygen. As can be quite disgusting in our understanding. And yet inhabited. Simply inhabitants there will be strange, but life is based on what some other elements. Those that can adapt to the environment.

Now the inhabitants of the lake Mono adapted to poisonous arsenic. And who knows what will adapt their fellows? In whom evolve? Maybe intelligent beings totally unpalatable species.

The supernatural origin of bacteria is not known. May be they local, and can be, and is listed from deep Space.

A well-known researcher from the University of Arizona Professor Paul Davies (Professor Paul Davies) believes: life on the planets, including the Earth, was able to emerge and die a few times. Some organisms, created for the "old" life was preserved and passed into the next. Bacteria Mono lake just such and can be.

- Bacteria were detected in 2009, " said Paul Davis. - They are still alive. We are studying them.


By the WAY

't know you, brother in mind

GFAJ-1 has caused the first major blow to the ruling today on the idea that brothers in mind just have to be like us. If they do exist.

- On Earth something appeared many times and independently from each other: of the heart, eyes, limbs with joints, wool, photosynthesis, sexual reproduction, is frequently cited their arguments in favor of uniformity renowned biologist Jack Cohen, who helps filmmakers "create" compelling aliens. - All this will surely arise again in the same form, if the process of the origin of living beings will begin anew.

The logic is simple: where would not have any life in the Universe, it may still be based on the same elements. And to develop according to the same laws. Hence, the crown of creation has to be recognizable - head, two arms, two legs, drinking water, breathing oxygen, has sex.

But, it turns out, the items may be different...and Suddenly the media of the mind is capable of taking the most unexpected kind?

- The first and only science fiction developed plots in which beings possessed of some bizarre biochemistry, " said Carl Pilcher (Carl Pilcher, Director Astrologicheskogo Institute NASA. - Bacteria lake Mono testify that other forms of life is quite probable.

Vladimir ?agowskie