The potentially groundbreaking revelation is based on an analysis of some of the comet’s more unusual surface features such as its organic-rich black crust of alien and icy crater lakes.
Dr Max Wallis of the University of Cardiff and colleague Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe presented evidence at the National Astronomy Meeting in Wales today suggesting that these features are strongly indicative of extraterrestrial micro-organisms living beneath the ice.
“Rosetta has already shown that the comet is not to be seen as a deep-frozen inactive body, but supports geological processes and could be more hospitable to micro-life than our Arctic and Antarctic regions,” said Dr Wallis.
Both Philae and Rosetta have found evidence of complex organic molecules on the comet and the processes responsible for several of its geological peculiarities continue to remain a mystery.
“These are not easily explained in terms of prebiotic chemistry,” said Prof Wickramasinghe. “The dark material is being constantly replenished as it is boiled off by heat from the sun.”
“Rosetta has already shown that the comet is not to be seen as a deep-frozen inactive body, but supports geological processes and could be more hospitable to micro-life than our Arctic and Antarctic regions,” said Dr Wallis.
“Something must be doing that at a fairly prolific rate.”
