Scientist from southern India thinks red rain contains extraterrestrial bacteria

Dr Godfrey Louis believes the red rain contained microbes from outer space which lacked DNA.

In the summer of 2001 in Kerala, South India, a red colored rain, aptly named the "blood rain" caught the attention of scientists and common people alike. Several theories followed after the blood rain and several people did many tests to find out what exactly the red colored matter was. Now someone has come out with a theory about the blood rain, which is intriguing, precise and it has already started to get noticed.

Dr. Godfrey Louis, a scientist of the Mahatma Gandhi university in Kerala, South India has published a paper in the Astrophysics and Space Science journal in which he states that the red-colored matter contained in the rain was microbes from outer space. He has discovered cell-like structures of about 10 micron size and are thick-walled and red-tinted. His further experiments suggest that the particles may lack DNA and are still able to reproduce.

Dr Godfrey Louis' theory is that the particles contain extraterrestrial bacteria from outer space which have adapted to the conditions of space. He also says the particles might have traveled through the space and then the atmosphere on a comet or a meteorite. The comet or meteorite might have broken down into pieces above India, and merged with the rain clouds that rained over Kerala.

If Godfrey Louis' theory is proved correct, then this could be the first substantial evidence that aliens exist in this universe. This may also lead to clues about how life on earth began. To prove his theory is correct, Louis sent some particles to astronomer Chandra Wickramasinghe and his colleagues at Cardiff University in Wales. They are now conducting experiments to replicate the particles.

Though several theories have been around regarding the origin of red particles, the lack of DNA could well add some strength to the new theory. Life as we know it on earth contains DNA. No DNA, no life. However, if the cells are living and are able to reproduce without a DNA as Dr Godfrey Louis believes, our entire concept of life would have to be reworked.