Could Life Travel Between Planets? The Science of Lithopanspermia

A study from Johns Hopkins University suggests microbes might survive the violent shock of asteroid impacts and travel between planets. Experiments with the ultra-resilient bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans show it can endure extreme pressures similar to those needed to eject material from Mars.

The findings lend support to the Lithopanspermia Hypothesis—the idea that life could spread across the solar system via space debris—raising new questions about planetary protection and the possible cosmic origin of life.

Thank you for listening to Bedtime Astronomy — your guide to the cosmos. New episodes on space exploration, NASA missions & the latest astronomy breakthroughs.

This episode includes AI-generated content.