The chances of an alien attack on Earth have increased, according to new research, and it's all thanks to planned manned missions to Mars.<\/p>\n
A new report from Professor Anthony Ricciardi, an expert in the ecology of invasive species, has said that extra-terrestrial organisms could devastate ecosystems.<\/p>\n
Bacteria, fungi, and other invisible stowaways could attach themselves to spacecraft, and survive the mission back to Earth.<\/p>\n
Professor Ricciardi said: Owing to their massive costs to resource sectors and human health, biological invasions are a global biosecurity issue requiring rigorous trans-boundary solutions.\"<\/p>\n
The era of space exploration brings with it a new risk - invasion.<\/p>\n
The peril comes not from little green men arriving on flying saucers but, rather, from microbiological contamination of Earth from extra-terrestrial environments and vice versa.<\/p>\n
Bacterial strains exhibiting extreme resistance to ionising radiation, desiccation and disinfectants have been isolated in NASA 'clean rooms' used for spacecraft assembly.<\/p>\n
It is also feared that similar organisms from earth could survive a journey to another planet and have a similar effect there, too.<\/p>\n
What do you think? Is it possible other life forms can travel back to Earth via manned missions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!<\/p>\n
Prof Ricciardi, writing in the BioScience journal, also warned that parasite-host interactions could be a threat.<\/p>\n
He said: Research in invasion science has produced novel insights for epidemiology, rapid evolution, the relationship between biodiversity and community stability and the dynamics of predator-prey and parasite-host interactions - among many other concepts.<\/p>\n
Protocols for early detection, hazard assessment, rapid response and containment procedures currently employed for invasive species on Earth could be adapted for dealing with potential extra-terrestrial contaminants.<\/p>\n
The race to Mars is very real, as China has already announced that it plans to send its first crew in 2033 - with regular follow-up flights, although it is though that the US wants to get there first and Russia has also been rumoured to be musing flights to Mars, too.<\/p>\n
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Manned missions to Mars 'will increase risk of aliens invading Earth', warns expert - Daily Star<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The chances of an alien attack on Earth have increased, according to new research, and it's all thanks to planned manned missions to Mars. A new report from Professor Anthony Ricciardi, an expert in the ecology of invasive species, has said that extra-terrestrial organisms could devastate ecosystems. Continue reading