Matthew Genge and his colleagues initially speculated they could have discovered alien life when observing microscopic tendrils from asteroid Ryugu, only to find they were earthly microbes.
The supposed alien organic matter exhibited growth patterns similar to earthly life, raising concerns about contamination as scientists attempted to explore samples from the Hayabusa2 mission.
Despite the excitement over the possibility of finding extraterrestrial life, the reality that the rods were likely terrestrial invaders highlights the challenges faced in planetary exploration.
Genge's team faced a humbling moment realizing their findings, initially thought to be groundbreaking, were a result of contamination from the Earth.
#asteroid-ryugu #microbial-contamination #extraterrestrial-life #hayabusa2-mission #planetary-science
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