"The red rain phenomenon of Kerala and its possible extraterrestrial origin" Godfrey Louis & A. Santhosh Kumar, Astrophysics and Space Science, Vol. 302, pages 175-187, 2006 (published online first on the date 04 April 2006) Abstract: A red rain phenomenon occurred in Kerala, India starting from 25th July 2001, in which the rainwater appeared coloured in various localized places that are spread over a few hundred kilometers in Kerala. Maximum cases were reported during the first 10 days and isolated cases were found to occur for about 2 months. The striking red colouration of the rainwater was found to be due to the suspension of microscopic red particles having the appearance of biological cells. These particles have no similarity with usual desert dust. An estimated minimum quantity of 50,000 kg of red particles has fallen from the sky through red rain. An analysis of this strange phenomenon further shows that the conventional atmospheric transport processes like dust storms etc. cannot explain this phenomenon. The electron microscopic study of the red particles shows fine cell structure indicating their biological cell like nature. EDAX analysis shows that the major elements present in these cell like particles are carbon and oxygen. Strangely, a test for DNA using Ethidium Bromide dye fluorescence technique indicates absence of DNA in these cells. In the context of a suspected link between a meteor airburst event and the red rain, the possibility for the extraterrestrial origin of these particles from cometary fragments is discussed. Link to journal paper: Click DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10509-005-9025-4 Preprint (full text) of the above paper (Released in 02 Jan 2006) is available for download from any of the following links or other mirror sites of ArXiv.org: Primary US link: http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0601022

Indian mirror: http://in.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0601022

UK mirror: http://uk.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0601022

2008

Presented in Astrobiology Conference, SPIE Symposium , August 10-14 2008 - in San Diego, California, USA.

Proc. SPIE, Vol. 7097, 709712 (2008); DOI:10.1117/12.794041

Optics + Photonics 2008 - Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XI, Conference 7097 - Proceedings of SPIE Volume 7097

Unusual autofluorescence characteristic of cultured red-rain cells

Godfrey Louis, Cochin Univ. of Science & Technology (India); A. Santhosh Kumar, Mahatma Gandhi Univ. (India)

Abstract:

The red cells found in the red rain in Kerala, India are now considered as a possible case of extraterrestrial life form. These cells can undergo rapid replication even at an extreme high temperature of 300 deg C. They can also be cultured in diverse unconventional chemical substrates. The molecular composition of these cells is yet to be identified. This paper reports the unusual autofluorescence characteristic of the cultured red rain cells. A spectrofluorimetric study has been performed to investigate this, which shows a systematic shift of the fluorescence emission peak wavelength as the excitation wavelength is increased. Conventional biomolecules are not known to have this property. Details of this investigation and the results are discussed.

Unusual autofluorescence characteristic of cultured red-rain cells

Proc. SPIE 7097, 709712 (2008)

http://link.aip.org/link/?PSISDG/7097/709712/1

DOI link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.794041

Preprint download: spiepaper709712.pdf

Click here for some of the fluorescence microscope images of the cultured red rain cells

2009

Conference Location: San Diego, CA, USA

Conference Title: Instruments and Methods for Astrobiology and Planetary Missions XII, Aug 2009

Conference Chairs: Richard B. Hoover, Gilbert V. Levin, Alexei Y. Rozanov, Kurt D. Retherford

Proc. SPIE, Vol. 7441, 74410N (2009); doi:10.1117/12.826780

An optical spectroscopic study correlating the yellow rain and cultured red rain microbes

A. Santhosh Kumar and Godfrey Louis

Abstract : A number of cases of yellow colored rain occurred in Kerala, India in July-August 2001 along with the red rain phenomenon. Recently during the end of July 2008 a few cases of yellow colored rain again occurred in Kerala and during the same time, unusual rain, termed as “blood rain” occurred in Bagado, Colombia. In this paper we show that the yellow rain and red rain can have a common origin. The yellow rainwater also exhibits the same unusual autofluorescence reported earlier for the cultured red rain microbes. Reasons for considering extraterrestrial origin for these colored rains are discussed.

An optical spectroscopic study correlating the yellow rain and cultured red rain microbes

Proc. SPIE 7441, 74410N (2009)

http://link.aip.org/link/?PSISDG/7441/74410N/1

Preprint Download: SPIE_2009_7441B-21.pdf DOI link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.826780

NEW 2010

SPIE Proceedings: SPIE Conference 7819 Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XIII Aug. 3-5 2010 San Diego, California, USA

1. Growth and replication of red rain cells at 121^oC and their red fluorescence

Rajkumar Gangappa ( Univ. of Glamorgan, U K), Chandra Wickramasinghe (Cardiff Univ. U K), Milton Wainwright (The Univ. of Sheffield U K), A. Santhosh Kumar ( Cochin Univ. of Science & Technology, India) and Godfrey Louis (Cochin Univ. of Science & Technology, India)

Abstract: We have shown that the red cells found in the Red Rain (which fell on Kerala, India, in 2001) survive and grow after incubation for periods of up to two hours at 121 ^oC . Under these conditions daughter cells appear within the original mother cells and the number of cells in the samples increases with length of exposure to 121 ^oC. No such increase in cells occurs at room temperature, suggesting that the increase in daughter cells is brought about by exposure of the Red Rain cells to high temperatures. This is an independent confirmation of results reported earlier by two of the present authors, claiming that the cells can replicate under high pressure at temperatures up to 300 ^oC. The flourescence behaviour of the red cells is shown to be in remarkable correspondence with the extended red emission observed in the Red Rectangle planetary nebula and other galactic and extragalactic dust clouds, suggesting, though not proving, an extraterrestrial origin.

Download Preprint from: http://arxiv4.library.cornell.edu/abs/1008.4960v1

Growth and replication of red rain cells at 121°C and their red fluorescence

Proc. SPIE 7819, 78190N (2010)

http://link.aip.org/link/?PSISDG/7819/78190N/1

SPIE Proceedings: SPIE Conference 7819 Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XIII Aug. 3-5 2010 San Diego, California, USA

2. Growth characteristics of red rain microbes at temperatures below 100^oC

Godfrey Louis, A. Santhosh Kumar

Abstract : The red rain microbes, which caused red rain phenomenon in Kerala, India, exhibit many characteristics much different from conventional microorganisms. Previous study indicates that these microbes are possibly of extraterrestrial origin. Their ability to multiply at extreme high temperature of 300 ^oC and the unusual autofluorescence of their biomolecules are some of their extraordinary properties. Their molecular composition is yet to be identified. In this paper we report the growth pattern of these novel microbes at temperatures below 100 ^oC as a minimal approach to show their biological nature. Automated turbidity measurement of the cell culture indicate standard microbial growth curve. Increase in the cell population is faster at higher temperatures. Details of this investigation and results are discussed.

Download preprint: SPIE7819_24_2010.pdf

Growth characteristics of red rain microbes at temperatures below 100 °C

Proc. SPIE 7819, 78190R (2010)

http://link.aip.org/link/?PSISDG/7819/78190R/1

Previous papers on red rain released in arXiv.org (2003):

1. Cometary panspermia explains the red rain of Kerala - Godfrey Louis & A. Santhosh Kumar, October 2003, Download link: http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0310120

Abstract: Red coloured rain occurred in many places of Kerala in India during July to September 2001 due to the mixing of huge quantity of microscopic red cells in the rainwater. Considering its correlation with a meteor airbust event, this phenomenon raised an extraordinary question whether the cells are extraterrestrial. Here we show how the observed features of the red rain phenomenon can be explained by considering the fragmentation and atmospheric disintegration of a fragile cometary body that presumably contains a dense collection of red cells. Slow settling of cells in the stratosphere explains the continuation of the phenomenon for two months. The red cells under study appear to be the resting spores of an extremophilic microorganism. Possible presence of these cells in the interstellar clouds is speculated from its similarity in UV absorption with the 217.5 nm UV extinction feature of interstellar clouds.

2. New biology of red rain extremophiles prove cometary panspermia - Godfrey Louis & A. Santhosh Kumar, December 2003, Download link: http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0312639

Abstract: This paper reports the extraordinary biology of the microorganisms from the mysterious red rain of Kerala, India. These chemosynthetic organisms grow optimally at an extreme high temperature of 300 degrees C in hydrothermal conditions and can metabolize inorganic and organic compounds including hydrocarbons. Stages found in their life cycle show reproduction by a special multiple fission process and the red cells found in the red rain are identified as the resting spores of these microbes. While these extreme hyperthermophiles contain proteins, our study shows the absence of DNA in these organisms, indicating a new primitive domain of life with alternate thermostable genetics. This new biology proves our earlier hypothesis that these microbes are of extraterrestrial origin and also supports our earlier argument that the mysterious red rain of Kerala is due to the cometary delivery of the red spores into the stratosphere above Kerala.

Articles and stories on red rain research : (New are added to the end of this list)

1. Skepticism greets claim of possible alien microbes - World Science, 5 January 2006. http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/060104_specksfrm1.htm

   1. A dust storm couldn't have caused the red rain of Kerala - by Brig Klyce , Whats New in Cosmic Ancestry, 6 January 2006, http://www.panspermia.org/whatsne40.htm#060106

2. Red rain may have ‘extraterrestrial origin’ By Jenifer Johnston - Sunday Herald (UK), 15 January 2006, http://www.sundayherald.com/53577

3. When aliens rained over India - by Hazel Muir, New Scientist magazine, issue 2541, 04 March 2006, page 34 (Cover Story) http://www.newscientist.com/contents/issue/2541.html http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/mg18925411.100.html

4. It's raining aliens - New Scientist Podcast, 04 March 2006 ( mp3 format audio file size 10.3 MB) http://www.newscientist.com/data/av/podcast/newsci-20060303-raining-aliens.mp3

5. Red rain could prove that aliens have landed - By Amelia Gentleman and Robin McKie, The Observer (UK), 05 March 2006 http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1723913,00.html

6. Is it raining aliens?.... by Michael Hanlon, E-Notes.com, 06 March 2006 http://science.enotes.com/science-news/raining-aliens-red-blood-falling-from-sky-baffled

7. Is mysterious 'red rain' first evidence of life in space? By Chris Benfield, Yorkshire Post (UK), 06 March 2006 http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=1375334

8. Red rain from another planet? - by George Iype, Rediff news, 08 March 2006 http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/08gspec.htm

9. Life hain professor!

10. - Prerna Shah, Times of India, 10 March 2006 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1445747.cms

11. Alien attack after red rain in Kerala - Naveen Nair, CNN-IBN, 18 March 2006 http://www.ibnlive.com/article.php?id=6952&section_id=11#

• 1. Red rain puzzle is still up in the air -by Hazel Muir , New Scientist Magazine issue 2545, 01 April 2006 http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19025453.100.html

12. UK Team offer new insight into red rain mystery - British Satellite News, 27 April 2006 http://www.bsn.org.uk/view_all.php?id=11615

• 1. ANALYSIS OF RED RAIN OF KERALA - Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology , 30 March 2006 http://www.astrobiology.cf.ac.uk/redrain.html

  2. Red rain of Kerala - David Darling, Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy & Spaceflight, http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/R/red_rain_of_Kerala.html

  3. Is It Raining Aliens? - Jebediah Reed, Popular Science, June 2006, http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/2c21c0f98d07b010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

13. Mysterious red cells might be aliens - Jebediah Reed , CNN.com, June 2, 2006 http://edition.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/06/02/red.rain/

• 1. Red rain in Kerala - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_rain_in_Kerala

14. Physicist: Cell-like structures could be microbes from space - WorldNetDaily.com, June 4, 2006 http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50498

15. Something weird fell in the red rain - Ed Willett , Leader-Post, June 08, 2006 http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/arts_life/story.html?id=c1627bd9-334a-428a-8d5f-a7c532c44ec2

16. "Extraterrestrial Life" in Red Rain of Kerala, India? -Linda Moulton Howe, Earthfiles.com, June 15, 2006 http://www.earthfiles.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1103&category=Science

17. When aliens visit - David Tenenbaum, The Why Files, 22 June 2006, http://whyfiles.org/shorties/207red_rain/

• 1. Germs from space? - Michael Carroll , Astronomy Magazine , 21 June 2006, http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=4337

18. Alien Lifefall in Red Rain on India? - Douglas Chapman, Strangemag.com, http://www.strangemag.com/redrainfolder/alienlifefall.html

19. Red Rain Cells of Kerala, India - Still No Definite DNA - Linda Moulton Howe, Earthfiles.com, August 19, 2006 http://www.earthfiles.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1129&category=Science

20. Ripple Marks: Red Rain - Cheryl Lyn Dybas , Oceanography Vol. 19 , No.3, Page 11, Sept 2006 http://www.tos.org/oceanography/issues/issue_archive/issue_pdfs/19_3/19.3_ripple_marks.pdf

21. Prof. Chandra Wickramasinghe - the man who asserted: "Life did not start here on earth but in space," - by Walter Jayawardhana , Asian Tribune, October 26, 2006. http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/2788

22. David Darling's News letter #37 http://www.daviddarling.info/discussion/newsletters_past_37.html

23. David Darling's News letter #39 http://www.daviddarling.info/discussion/newsletters_past_39.html

24. Claim of alien cells in rain may fit historical accounts: study – World Science Net , Jan 22, 2008 http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/080122_red-rain.htm

25. Link to the abstract of original paper of P. McCafferty in International Journal of Astrobiology: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?aid=1661980

26. “It’s Raining Aliens!” Coloured Rain in Kerala and the Fuzzy Frontiers of Science - Shiju Sam Varughese -Sarai Reader 07: Frontiers pages 348-358 http://www.sarai.net/publications/readers/07-frontiers/348-358_shiju.pdf

• 1. 'Alternative life' at 300 Celsius - R Gopakumar, DH News Service, Thiruvananthapuram, http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jun212008/national2008062074569.asp

27. Report: cells “from space” have unusual makeup – World Science, 8^th September 2008, http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/080908_redrain.htm

• 1. Fluorescence Mystery in Red Rain Cells of Kerala, India - by Linda Moulton Howe (2009) http://www.earthfiles.com/news.php?ID=1526&category=Science

Conference presentation of red rain research:

1. Work on red rain was also presented in the 3 day workshop on `Astrobiological problems for physicists' at NORDITA, (Copenhagen, Denmark) 8-10 January 2004. http://www.nordita.dk/conference/AstroBio2004/

2. Invited Lecture on "Microbial red rain of Kerala" presented by Godfrey Louis at the conference on " Cosmic Dust and Panspermia" held at Cardiff University, Cardiff U.K. 5-8 September 2006. http://www.astrobiology.cf.ac.uk/conference.html

3. Invited speaker on topic " Red rain phenomenon of Kerala" in the 2006 world mystery forum Conference, November 11 to 12 , 2006 at " Mystery Park" Interlaken, Switzerland. http://www.worldmysteriesforum.ch/index.php?id=6&L=1

4. Invited Speaker, Program committee Member and Session Chair in Astrobiology Conference 7097, SPIE Symposium , August 10-14 2008 - in San Diego, California, USA. Presented paper "Unusual autofluorescence of cultured red-rain cells", Proc. SPIE, Vol. 7097, 709712 (2008); DOI:10.1117/12.794041

Red rain cells