title: On methods of detection of extraterrestrial life.
abstract: New methods have been developed for detecting microbial growth from the microflora of desert soils. The first is a polarimetric method in which the fall in optical activity due to assimilation of D-glucose is followed. Detectable changes with desert soils were seen in a few hours, and the method can be employed with small amounts of material. The second method is the release of heat from metabolizable substrates as measured by a microcalorimeter. In the presence of glucose a characteristic response from desert soils was found within 24 hours.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow, USSR.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Imshenetsky
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Evdokimova
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Sotnikov
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media; D003889:Desert Climate; D018559:Exobiology / Q000379:methods*; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D005557:Formaldehyde; D005947:Glucose; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013644:Tartrates
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D013644:Tartrates; D005557:Formaldehyde; D005947:Glucose; C029768:tartaric acid