Cometary habitats for primitive life.
Comet Halley studies indicate most of the nucleus is covered by an insulating crust, presumed of pyrolysed organic material. The subcrust is warmed and percolated by gases within 2AU, so provides one habitat for primitive replicating organisms. Cracks and crevices within contaminated ice in the craters provides a habitat for photosynthesising organisms. Subsurface lakes on the Europa model, though insulated by some metres of ice, would require a trigger (perhaps meteorite impact and energy source (chemical or metabolic energy) to initiate and maintain a suitable-habitat on short period comets. Constraints on transfer between comets and other planetary bodies implies that radiation-resistant species with lengthy hibernation potential would be expected.
Wallis
M K
MK
School of Mathematics, University of Wales, Cardiff.
Wickramasinghe
N C
NC
Hoyle
F
F
D002244:Carbon; D019443:Cosmic Dust; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D018559:Exobiology; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis; D007053:Ice / Q000032:analysis; D019110:Meteoroids; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D016082:Solar System
D019443:Cosmic Dust; D005740:Gases; D007053:Ice; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D002244:Carbon