CI1 fossils refer to alleged morphological evidence of microfossils found in five CI1 carbonaceous chondrite meteorite fall: Alais, Orgueil, Ivuna, Tonk and Revelstoke. The research was published in March 2011 in the fringe Journal of Cosmology by Richard B. Hoover, an engineer. However, NASA distanced itself from Hoover's claim and his lack of expert peer-reviews.[1]

Findings

Main article: Journal of Cosmology § Hoover paper controversy

Hoover's team used Environmental (ESEM) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) to analyze the meteorite samples, studying internal surfaces. Hoover also produced electron micrographs which he believes resemble the shape of trichomic cyanobacteria and other trichomic prokaryotes such as the filamentous sulfur bacteria. For comparison, Hoover compared the samples to those of terrestrial minerals and biological materials. Hoover concludes from these results that the CI1 fossils are indigenous to the samples.[2]

The claims were initially submitted to the International Journal of Astrobiology, which rejected the paper,[3] but were eventually published by the fringe Journal of Cosmology. NASA distanced itself from Hoover's claims,[3] and the claims were debunked soon after publication.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sheridan, Kerry (7 March 2011). "NASA shoots down alien fossil claims". ABC News. Retrieved 2011-03-07.
  2. ^ Hoover, Richard B. (2011). "Fossils of Cyanobacteria in CI1 Carbonaceous Meteorites: Implications to Life on Comets, Europa, and Enceladus". Journal of Cosmology. 13. Archived from the original on 2011-03-08. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  3. ^ a b "NASA Statement on Astrobiology Paper by Richard Hoover". SpaceRef.com.
  4. ^ L. Battison (11 March 2011). "Microbes on a Moonbeam: Disentangling the Meteorite Microbe Claims". Science in Pen and Ink. Retrieved 2011-03-12.


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