Aliens and the search for life in the universe have always been a source of intrigue and curiosity for humans. In search of extraterrestrial life, scientists are now abandoning conventional thinking and coming up with new theories. Now, a pair of astronomers have suggested that extraterrestrials living on exoplanets could be hitching rides on meteors to colonise planets including Earth, LiveScience reported.
It's all to do with the idea of "panspermia" – a fringe theory which suggests that life forms can move from planet to planet by 'hitching rides' on meteors. The theory further suggests we may not be aware of their arrival. Researchers Harrison B. Smith and Lana Sinapayen have also published a plan detailing how such phenomena can be detected.
It's believed that the some 5,000 confirmed exoplanets are the most likely places lifeforms other than ours to exist and that if they do, they might hitch rides to other planets. However, the biggest challenge is identifying these life forms which have travelled on meteors.
But if panspermia is possible, then it means that scientists could theoretically narrow their search for alien life, even if they don't know specifically what they're looking for.
